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AFGHANISTAN
Void in US Strategy for Afghanistan - Gordon Lubold, Christian Science Monitor
Senior defense officials are debating how many troops they can send to Afghanistan and how soon they can do it to improve the deteriorating security situation there.
But even as political pressure mounts to do more to stop the violence in that region, there is increasing fear in the Pentagon that sending in more forces is just a stopgap measure that masks the absence of a broader, viable strategy.
"To a certain extent, we have boxed ourselves into the idea that additional troops is a panacea for revising strategy," says a senior Pentagon official. "That in and of itself becomes the strategy."
More troops does mean more security, says the military official, who asked to remain anonymous because of the sensitive nature of the matter. But he and others don’t think the conversation inside the Defense Department or at the national level has “matured” past that.
Other officials fear that plans to withdraw more troops from Iraq offers a convenient way to send more to Afghanistan, without a plan for how they would be used or to what objective.
That thinking suggests that Iraq and Afghanistan are one and the same, says the official, when in fact they are different, not only in terms of US interests but in what can be done on the ground.
More at The Christian Science Monitor.
Pentagon Reports US Airstrike Killed 5 Afghan Civilians, Not 90 - Ann Scott Tyson, Washington Post
A US military review of an airstrike last week in western Afghanistan maintains that only five civilians were killed, Pentagon officials said yesterday, a finding that starkly contradicts reports by the United Nations and Afghan officials that the civilian death toll from the bombing was at least 90.
The completed review corroborates an initial assessment by the military of the operation Friday by US and Afghan forces in a village in Herat province. The review determined that 25 militants, including a Taliban commander, and five civilians had been killed, the officials said.
"We did not kill up to 90 civilians as has been alleged," one US military official said.
More at The Washington Post.
Afghans Say Deadly US Raid Based on Misleading Tip - Fisnik Abrashi and Jason Straziuso, Associated Press (Washington Post)
Afghan officials said Thursday that a deadly US-led special forces raid on a remote western village last week was based on misleading information provided by a rival clan.
It was the latest twist in a tangled debate over what happened. UN officials say the raid killed up to 90 civilians, most of them children. A NATO official said US and Afghan troops were fired on first, touching off a battle of several hours that killed 25 militants and five civilians.
The US government is pressing for a joint US-Afghan probe in hopes of reaching a common conclusion. Two Pentagon officials said Thursday a US review concluded civilian deaths were far fewer than claimed by others. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the report had not been made public, said the findings were given to Afghan leaders.
More at The Washington Post.
IRAQ UPDATE
IRAQ
The Divided and Broken City of Kirkuk Faces Up to the Curse of Oil - Deborah Haynes, The Times
It should be Iraq's biggest success story. Beneath the soil of Kirkuk lies oil worth billions of dollars - the world's sixth-biggest reserve.
Yet there is no sewerage system, the roads are cracked, rubbish is strewn all over the pavements, unemployment is as high as 40 per cent and there is no sign of any improvement.
Even more worrying - to the Government as well as to the US-led coalition - is that the city is being pulled between different ethnic groups, making it the most dangerous issue facing Iraq.
The Kurds of Kirkuk, who are a majority and hold the top political and security posts, believe that the city belongs to Iraq's largely autonomous Kurdish north.
After years of “Arab-isation” as Saddam Hussein tried to ensure control of its oil wealth, offering poor Arab families money to relocate there, Kirkuk is now filling with Kurdish families returning in their droves.
The Arab settlers have the option to go back to their original towns and cities for a cash payment of 20 million dinars (£9,100).This worries and infuriates the Arabs and the city's other main ethnic group, the Turkomans. They want Kirkuk to stay under the control of Baghdad or for it to be made an independent zone where power is shared.
More at The Times.
THE LONG WAR
The Big Chill - Clifford May, National Review
Freedom of speech is under attack. Let us count the ways.
The first and most obvious: Those who criticize militant Islamists - from novelist Salman Rushdie to Danish cartoonists to memoirist Ayaan Hirsi Ali - are routinely threatened with deadly violence. It would be black humor to say this is having a chilling effect.
The second is “political correctness.” On campuses and within Western governments, it is increasingly taboo to label terrorists who slaughter in the name of Islam “Islamist terrorists.” In Canada, “human rights commissions” attempt to enforce this taboo by putting such writers as Mark Steyn and Ezra Levant on trial for the “crime” of expressing opinions that offend Islamic grievance groups - and also for quoting Islamists accurately and thereby casting them in an unfavorable light. If that’s not Orwellian, what is?
But it is the third approach that could be most consequential for Americans. It’s known as “libel tourism” and here’s how it works: A book published in the United States names an individual abroad who supports terrorist groups. That individual - for the sake of discussion, let’s say he’s a Saudi petro-billionaire with a home in London - goes online and orders a few copies which arrive in the mail. He takes those books to a British attorney who files a lawsuit complaining that his client has been libeled.
... But more important is this: The message gets sent - loud and clear - to journalists, scholars, and publishers that researching and writing about terrorists and those who enable them is verboten - even in America.
More at The National Review.
YEMEN
Yemen's Fight Against Resurgent Al Qaeda - Ginny Hill, Christian Science Monitor
... The film comes on the heels of a crackdown on militants in the desert province of Hadramaut. In the past three weeks, security forces have killed five Al Qaeda suspects and arrested more than 30 suspected Al Qaeda members. Two Saudi passports were found among documents seized in this month's raids and interrogations revealed apparent plans to launch terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia, according to reports in Yemeni newspapers.
The raids underline the importance of Yemen's internal security to Saudi Arabia, but Yemen is also paying the price for the northern kingdom's clampdown on its own insurgents. In March, a Saudi terror financier admitted that Al Qaeda's branch in Saudi Arabia was defeated and called on his associates to flee to Yemen.
Yemen lacks the resources to tackle terrorism in the same robust manner as the Saudis – its per capita gross domestic product of $2,300 is dwarfed by $23,200 in Saudi Arabia.
More at The Christian Science Monitor.
RUSSIA / GEORGIA
Putin Suggests US Provocation in Georgia Clash - Cloifford Levy, New York Times
As Russia struggled to rally international support for its military action in Georgia, Vladimir V. Putin, the country’s paramount leader, lashed out at the United States on Thursday, contending that the White House may have orchestrated the conflict to benefit one of the candidates in the American presidential election.
Mr. Putin’s comments in a television interview, his most extensive to date on Russia’s decision to send troops into Georgia earlier this month, sought to present the military operation as a response to brazen, cold war-style provocations by the United States. In tones that seemed alternately angry and mischievous, he suggested that the Bush administration may have tried to create a crisis that would influence American voters in the choice of a successor to President Bush.
“The suspicion would arise that someone in the United States created this conflict on purpose to stir up the situation and to create an advantage for one of the candidates in the competitive race for the presidency in the United States,” Mr. Putin said in an interview with CNN.
More at the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and Daily Telegraph.
AUSTRALIA
Top-level Shake-up to Bolster National Security - Patrick Walters, The Australian
A new top-level national security adviser will co-ordinate Australia's long-term security planning, following a bureaucratic shake-up expected to be approved by Kevin Rudd and cabinet's national security committee today.
The new national security adviser is expected to be appointed as an associate secretary within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, on the same level as PM&C's economic supremo, David Tune.
Duncan Lewis, a former special forces commander and currently the deputy secretary who leads the PM&C's national security office, is tipped to become the Rudd Government's first national security adviser.
The Prime Minister is also expected to finalise a ground-breaking national security statement, which is due to be delivered to parliament this week.
Senior government sources say the statement will detail a wide range of emerging threats to security, well beyond traditional military threats.
Mr Rudd may also choose to detail the latest changes to the Government's top national security planning apparatus.
The parliamentary statement will encompass long-term challenges such as climate change and food security in addition to analysing security trends, including terrorism and military changes in the Asia-Pacific region.
More at The Australian.
UNITED KINGDOM
British Army Has Too Many Officers and Not Enough Rank-and-File Soldiers - James Kirkup, Daily Telegraph
The British Army has too many officers and not enough rank-and-file soldiers, new figures have revealed.
There are almost 1,000 more trained officers on the Army payroll than the force needs to do its work.
But among the ranks, there is a shortfall of 4,400 - the equivalent of around seven infantry battalions.
Ministry of Defence manning figures showed that there are 14,370 trained officers in the Army, a surplus of 910 over the force's "requirement strength" of 13,460.
By contrast, there are 83,920 "other ranks," a shortfall of 4,400 on the total requirement of 88,320.
Overall, the Army is 3,500 personnel short of its full needs. The three Armed Forces have a combined deficit of 5,790.
The MoD data confirmed that the size of Britain's military forces is continuing to fall even as they conduct two intensive operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
More at The Daily Telegraph.
US / CHINA
US-China Talks Mark New Role - Richard Halloran, Washington Times
US Pacific Command has opened a new channel of communications with the People´s Liberation Army of China - a diplomatic liaison with senior noncommissioned officers.
The exchange comes at a time of deteriorating US-Russia military relations but was planned months ago. US officials are loath to imply any connection between the two developments.
The Sino-US exchange marked the first use of noncommissioned officers in a diplomatic role, said Chief Master Sgt. James Roy of the Air Force.
Sgt. Roy led the delegation of 16 senior NCOs to China and is preparing to receive a Chinese delegation in a reciprocal visit to US forces in Hawaii this fall.
"We went to understand them better and to have them understand us," he said in an interview.
"We did not go to help them to build capacity."
US military officials said the effort has two goals: to deter China from confronting the US with armed force and to reassure the Chinese that the US is not seeking to contain their nation.
More at The Washington Times.
NEWS & OPINION NOTES
Iraq
US Air Force Uses New Guided Bomb in Iraq - Christian Science Monitor
Iraq and China Sign $3 Billion Oil Contract - Washington Post
Iraq Signs Oil Deal With China Worth Up to $3 Billion - New York Times
Iraqi PM Changes Team Negotiating US Troops Pact - Reuters
US Arrests Key Iraq Official for Suspected Ties to Militia - Los Angeles Times
US Forces Arrest Senior Iraqi Official - Reuters
Iraq Moves to Curb Sales of Fake Drugs - Los Angeles Times
Iraq's Sticky Future - The Times editorial
Iraqi Windfalls and Reconstruction - Washington Times opinion
Afghanistan / Pakistan Tribal Areas
Diggers Repel Taliban Attacks While Building Bridges - The Australian
More than 100 Taliban Killed in Afghanistan - Reuters
Car Bombing of Police Bus Kills 8 in Pakistan - New York Times
Bombing of Pakistani Government Bus Kills 8 - Associated Press
Iran
Iran's Secret Weapon Isn't Bombs But Oil - Daily Telegraph opinion
Russia / Georgia / NATO
Missile Test Risks New Cold War - The Australian
Fear Keeps the Port of Poti in Russian Hands - The Times
West Mulls Few Options in Georgia-Russia Crisis - Christian Science Monitor
Security Group Refuses to Back Russia’s Actions - New York Times
Russia Claims Beijing Backing Against West - Washington Times
Occupation With No End in Sight - Washington Post
Russia Nuclear Deal May Fall, a Casualty of Conflict - New York Times
Russia Faces Diplomatic Isolation on Georgia - Reuters
Relief Agencies Decry Military Role in Georgia - Baltimore Sun
Russia Trifles with Genocide - Christian Science Monitor editorial
Ukraine Plays a Risky Game - Daily Telegraph opinion
Russia and the New Axis of Evil - Wall Street Journal opinion
What's NATO Worth? - Los Angeles Times opinion
Will Turkey Abandon NATO? - Wall Street Journal opinion
Farewell, NATO - National Review opinion
Star Wars, Tsar Bright - Washington Times opinion
Africa
Foreign Investors Recognize Allure of Sub-Saharan Africa - Washington Post
Mugabe to Form Minority Cabinet in Zimbabwe - The Australian
Heavy Fighting Threatens East Congo Peace Deal - Reuters
UN Envoy Calls Attention to Somalia Humanitarian Crisis - Voice of America
Global Justice Challenged in Darfur - Boston Globe opinion
Americas
Ecuador Ssks Colombia to Send Troops to Border to Contain Rebels - LA Times
Bolivian Is an Uneasy Ally as US Presses Drug War - New York Times
12 Decapitated Bodies Found in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula - LA Times
Argentine Ex-generals Guilty of 'Dirty War' Death - Los Angeles Times
Two Presidential Terms is Enough - Miami Herald opinion
Asia / Pacific
Japan - South Korea: Tensions Spike Over Islets - Associated Press
N. Korean Spy Lured Officers - United Press International
Malaysia: Anwar Confident of Enough Defections to Take Power - The Australian
Police Clash with Thai Protesters - BBC News
Pyongyang As Usual - Wall Street Journal editorial
Helping Burma's Nonviolent Struggle - Miami Herald opinion
What to Do about Burma? - Commentary opinion
Middle East
United Nations Peacekeepers to Remain in Lebanon - Associated Press
An Israel-Syria 'Deal'? - Washington Times editorial
South Asia
Zardari’s Funds Returned as Court Case is Closed - The Times
Pakistan: Zardari May Step Aside for Sister - The Australian
Pakistan: Disturbed Nukes? - Washington Times opinion
Hindus and Christians Clash Over Burnt Churches in India - Daily Telegraph
Faiths Clash, Displacing Thousands in East India - New York Times
Shoot-on-Sight Order for Indian Hindu-Christian Riots - Agence France-Presse
World
Farewell to World Peace? - Christian Science Monitor opinion
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.