12 July SWJ Roundup
Afghanistan
Scaparrotti Takes ISAF Joint Command Reins – AFPS
Tensions Rise Along Afghan-Pakistan Border (Updated) – WP
Marines Discuss Counterinsurgency Successes in Helmand – AFPS
France’s President Sarkozy Arrives in Afghanistan – BBC
ISAF Operations Update – AFPS
Suspect in Mutilation of an Afghan Woman Is Freed – NYT
Afghan Bank Says It Is on Solid Financial Footing – AP
Copper Mining Will Crush Ancient Afghan Site – LAT
Pakistan
US Decision to Withhold Military Aid Could Backfire – LAT
Pakistan Says US Aid With Conditions Unacceptable – VOA
DOD Spokesman Discusses Pakistan Military Aid Delay – AFPS
In Pakistan, Many Say Aid ‘Snub’ Dims US Sway – AP
US Aid Cut to Pakistan Could Hurt Economy – Reuters
US Aid Cutoff Followed by Drone Strike in Pakistan – AP
Four Die in US Drone Attack on Afghan Border – BBC
Lashkar-e-Taiba Says Pakistan Needs Peace, Prosperity – Reuters
Squeezing Pakistan – WP editorial
Iraq
Panetta Presses Iraq for Decision on Troops – NYT
Panetta on Ssking US Troops to Stay: ‘Dammit, Make a Decision’ – S&S
Panetta Calls for Iraqi Decision on Future US Presence – AFPS
US Defense Chief Concerned About Iranian Weapons in Iraq – VOA
Extremists Use Iranian Weapons, Iraq Command Spokesman Says – AFPS
Iran Threatens to Attack Kurdish Rebels in Iraq – AP
Panetta Vows to Protect US Troops in Iraq – AFPS
Iraq Moving Forward to Establish Democracy, Panetta Says – AFPS
1 of Iraq’s 3 Vice Presidents Resigns – AP
Syria
Crowds in Syria Attack US and French Embassies – NYT
Demonstrators Storm US Embassy in Damascus – WP
US: Syria Unleashed Mob Attacks on US, French Embassies – LAT
US Embassy in Syria Is Attacked – AP
US Slams Syria for ‘Outrageous’ Embassy Attack – Reuters
Assad No Longer Legitimate, Says Clinton – BBC
Clinton Says Syria’s Assad Has Lost Legitimacy – Reuters
US Says Syria’s Assad Has Lost Legitimacy – AP
Libya
Reading the Rebels in Western Libya, Pt. I – NYT
As Ramadan Approaches, Rebels Worry About Mounting Odds – WP
Italy Calls for Political Solution in Libya – Reuters
Israel / Palestinians
Israel Bans Boycotts Against the State – NYT
Israeli House Passes Ban on Settlement Boycotts – AP
Gunmen Blow Up Egyptian Gas Pipeline to Israel – AP
Iran
Extremists Use Iranian Weapons, Iraq Command Spokesman Says – AFPS
Iran Threatens to Attack Kurdish Rebels in Iraq – AP
Egypt
Egypt Protesters Reject PM Offer of Cabinet Reshuffle – Reuters
Egypt’s Latest Crisis Puts Pressure on Leadership – AP
Gunmen Blow Up Egyptian Gas Pipeline to Israel – AP
Middle East / North Africa
Latest Developments in Arab World’s Unrest – AP
The Long Pursuit of Justice in Lebanon – NYT editorial
Morocco: All Hail the (Democratic) King – NYT opinion
Al Qaeda / Terrorism
New Study Shows How Terrorist Activities are Evolving – WP
CIA Moves to Protect Key Analyst in bin Laden Raid – WP
Vaccination Ruse Used in Pursuit of Bin Laden – NYT
Panetta Appears to Link al-Qaeda Presence with Iraq Invasion – WP
Ex-CIA Chief Hayden on al-Qaida after bin-Laden – AP
Wikileaks
Julian Assange Back in Court to Fight Extradition – AP
WikiLeaks’ Assange in UK Court Extradition Appeal – Reuters
US Department of Defense
Panetta: Doing Every ‘Damn’ Thing He Can – WP
Officials to Release DOD Cyber Strategy – AFPS
United States
Partisan Divide on Debt Grows Wider – WP
Obama Takes Centrist Banner in Impasse Over Deficit – NYT
Hackers Grab 90,000 Military Emails, Encrypted Passwords – S&S
Anonymous Claims Obtained Military Data in Breach of Booz Allen – WP
Court: Gov’t Must State Position on Gay Troop Ban – AP
Books Aren’t Closed on Bush’s Torture Policy – WP opinion
Africa
USMC Task Force to Train Militaries Fighting AQ-Linked Groups – S&S
South Sudan Gets Vice President, Government – VOA
Independent South Sudan is Jubilant, Wobbly – LAT
In S. Sudan, Can Liberators Build a Nation? – WP opinion
Uganda Opens Country’s First War Crimes Trial – VOA
Uganda LRA War Crimes Trial Opens – BBC
Somali Children Die en Route to Refugee Camp – AP
Americas
Mexico Captures US-Born Tijuana Drug Lieutenant – AP
Likely Candidate Says Mexico Ready for Woman Pres – WP
Colombia to Destroy Houses Used by Rebels for Attacks – BBC
In Colombia, a Move Toward Restitution – LAT editorial
Haiti: Why Accurate Count of Civilian Deaths Matters – LAT opinion
Asia Pacific
US, Chinese Military Chiefs Discuss Disputes – VOA
Top Chinese General Takes Aim at US Military Policy – CNN
US-China Spat Over South China Sea Military Exercises – BBC
Mullen Cites Importance of US-China Relationship – AFPS
Philippines Rachets Up Pressure on China Over Territorial Dispute – VOA
China’s Space Program Shoots for Moon, Mars, Venus – AP
Protesters, Police Clash in South Korea – CNN
Armed Men Abduct 3 People in Southern Philippines – AP
Europe
UK Lowers Terrorist Threat Level – AP
Petrol Bombs Thrown at N. Ireland Police – BBC
N. Ireland: Divisive Ulster Holiday Starts With Belfast Riots – AP
Cyprus Blast Results in Death, Widespread Power Cuts – VOA
Cyprus: Navy Chief Killed by Base Munitions Blast – BBC
Cypriot Defense Minister Resigns After Blast Kills 12 – AP
Scores of Children Among 128 Dead in Russian Sinking – NYT
German Intelligence Agency Looking Into Stolen Blueprints – NYT
IMF Chief: Not Ready to Talk About New Greek Bailout – Reuters
South Asia