27 December SWJ Roundup
Afghanistan
Taliban Fighters Appear Quieted in Afghanistan – New York Times
U.S. Troops Battle to Hand off an Afghan Valley – Washington Post
Petraeus: NATO, Afghan, Pakistani Forces to Coordinate More Operations – VOA
Deadly Afghan Year Takes Toll on 101st Airborne – Associated Press
Afghan Leader Orders New Court For Poll Complaints – Reuters
Afghanistan to Look into Missing Medicine – Associated Press
NATO Service Member Killed by Bomb in Afghanistan – Associated Press
Blast in South Afghan City of Kandahar Kills 3 – Associated Press
Turkish Workers Kidnapped in Paktia – BBC News
Pakistan
Petraeus Commends Pakistan’s Counterinsurgency – Associated Press
U.N. Suspends Food Aid in Pakistani Tribal Region – Voice of America
Pakistan Bombing Halts Food Aid – BBC News
Thousands Fear Hunger after Pakistan Bombing – Associated Press
Pakistan’s Blasphemy Law Seen as Tool of Oppression – Los Angeles Times
Necessity Pushes Pakistani Women Into Jobs and Peril – New York Times
Charting the Data for U.S. Airstrikes in Pakistan, 2004-2010 – Long War Journal
U.S. Predators Kill 6 ‘Rebels’ in North Waziristan Strike – Long War Journal
Pak Intel: Alleged US Missiles Hit Pakistan, Kill 12 – Associated Press
Iraq
Twin Suicide Blasts Strike Western Iraq – Associated Press
Suicide Bombings Kill Up to 17 In Iraq’s Ramadi – Reuters
Al-Qaida Threat on Iraq Christians Linked to Egypt – Associated Press
Iraq’s Wild Ones Are Mainly Looking to Impress – New York Times
Conflict Metrics: Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan
States of Conflict: An Update – New York Times opinion
Iran
Lawyer: Iran Halts Execution of Kurdish Student – Voice of America
Family Fails to Meet Detained Journalists in Iran – Associated Press
Korean Peninsula
Could North Korea be Headed for Collapse? – Stars and Stripes
S. Korea Predicts North will Ramp Up Attacks in 2011 – Christian Science Monitor
Visitors See North Korea Still Stunted by Its Isolation – New York Times
South Korea Must Unite to Survive, says President Lee – BBC News
South Korea’s Lee Says Unity Vital to Counter North – Reuters
North Korean Soldiers Boast of Yeonpyeong Island Attack – Los Angeles Times
S. Korea Vows Retaliation if North Attacks Again – Associated Press
WikiLeaks
WikiLeaks’ Assange Wins Book Deal – Voice of America
U.S. Department of Defense
Chiarelli: Soldiers Need More Time Home Between Deployments – Huffington Post
Marine Corps Searches for Improved Body Armor – Marine Corps Times
From the Pentagon to the Private Sector – Boston Globe
The 2007 Class of Retiring Generals – Boston Globe
United States
Gibbs: Gitmo Isn’t Closing Now – CNN News
U.S. Focusing More on Rail, Hotel Security – Washington Times
Homeland Security Chief Defends Airport Security – Associated Press
Cargo that Flies over United States Doesn’t Get Screened – Washington Post
United Kingdom
Nine Charged After U.K. Terror Raid – BBC News
British Police Charge 9 on Terror Offenses – New York Times
Nine Charged After Britain Terrorism Raids – Reuters
Africa
U.S. Presses Sudan, South Prepares for Independence Vote – Washington Times
New Clashes in Central Nigeria After Deadly Friday Bombings – VOA
Christmas Weekend Violence Kills 38 in Nigeria – Associated Press
Religious Clashes Flare In Central Nigeria – Reuters
U.N. Chief Condemns Nigeria Clashes – BBC News
Ivory Coast General Strike Called to Oust Gbagbo – Associated Press
Ivory Coast General Strike Called – BBC News
Ivory Coast’s Ouattara Calls For Nationwide Strike – Reuters
Americas
Mexico Says Its Troops Killed U.S. Man, Planted Evidence – Associated Press
A Mexican Drug Lord and Panamanian President’s Request – Washington Post
Colombia’s Santos is a New Breed of Diplomat – Washington Post
‘Colombia Can Play Role that Coincides with U.S. Interest’ – Washington Post
Conflict Over Squatters Divides Argentina – New York Times
Venezuela: Chavez Bids Critical Farewell to Adversary Perez – Associated Press
Chavez Uses Decree for Disaster Fund in Venezuela – Associated Press
Asia Pacific
Poverty Breeds New Generation of Filipino Rebels – Associated Press
MILF Doubts Resumption of Peace Talks – Philippine Inquirer
Philippine Rebels Threaten Attacks Despite Talks – Associated Press
Communist Rebels in Mindanao Optimistic About Peace Talks – Philippine Inquirer
Truce broken in Mindoro – Philippine Star
Europe
Hundreds Rally In Moscow Against Ethnic Violence – Voice of America
Protesting Ethnic Strife in Russia – New York Times
Thousands Rally in Moscow Against Ethnic Violence – Associated Press
Former Russian Tycoon Convicted in 2nd Case – New York Times
More Germans say ‘Nein’ to Islamists – Associated Press
Portugal’s Drug Policy Pays Off; U.S. Eyes Lessons – Associated Press
Dutch Clear 5 of 12 Detained Somalis of Terrorism – Associated Press
Police Defuse Package At Greek Embassy In Rome – Reuters
The Putinization of Hungary – Washington Post editorial
Middle East
Israeli Foreign Minister: Peace Is ‘Impossible’ – Associated Press
Israel, Hamas Trade Threats as Border Tensions Escalate – Voice of America
Israel Again Refuses to Apologize for Attack on Turkish Ship – Voice of America
Ship in Israel Raid Returns to Turkey – New York Times
Israel Won’t Attend Racism Conference Fete – Associated Press
Yemen Sets Up Anti-Terror Unit in Al-Qaida Bastion – Associated Press
Preserving Heritage, and the Fabric of Life, in Syria – New York Times
Egypt: State of Emergency – Washington Post opinion
South Asia
Sri Lankan Detainees Pass University Entrance Exams – BBC News