13 December SWJ Roundup
Afghanistan
As U.S. Assesses Afghan War, Karzai a Question Mark – Washington Post
6 Americans Killed by Bomb at a New U.S.-Afghan Outpost – New York Times
Suicide Bomber Kills 6 Troops in Afghanistan – Washington Post
Six NATO Troops Killed in Afghanistan – Los Angeles Times
Afghan NATO Attack: ‘Six U.S. Soldiers’ Die Near Kandahar – BBC News
Arrests in Attack That Killed 6 US Troops – Associated Press
Taliban Small-arms Attacks Nearly Double – USA Today
Nawa Proving Ground for U.S. Strategy in Afghan War – Washington Post
Violence Flares Anew in Southern Afghanistan – New York Times
Dozens of Afghan Insurgents Killed in Rare Wintertime Fighting – Washington Post
Jailed Afghan Drug Lord Was Informer on U.S. Payroll – New York Times
Karzai Signs Deal on Gas Pipeline Project – Los Angeles Times
Life Among U.S. Enemies: Embedded with the Taliban – CNN News
An Inescapable Conclusion on Afghanistan – Politico
An American Face on American Aid – Washington Post opinion
Pakistan
Pakistan Doctor Arrested on Suspicion of Blasphemy – Associated Press
Gunmen Kill 2 Police Officers in NW Pakistan – Associated Press
Iraq
Suicide Attacks Ring Baghdad – New York Times
Suicide Bomber Kills 13 in Iraq’s Anbar Province – Los Angeles Times
Iraq Suicide Bombing Kills At Least 13 in Ramadi – Voice of America
Car Bomb Kills 13 And Wounds Dozens In Iraq’s Ramadi – Reuters
With New Violence, More Christians Are Fleeing Iraq – New York Times
Iraqi’s Kurdish Leader Calls for Self-Determination – Voice of America
Iraqi Kurd Leader Says Kirkuk Belongs to Kurdistan – Reuters
Joint Chiefs Chairmain in Iraq to Meet With U.S. Troops – Associated Press
Pentagon Forced to Extend Contracts that are Under Appeal – Washington Post
Iran
Iranian President Increasingly Grabbing Power from Parliament – Washington Post
Iran Anger over U.K. Ambassador – BBC News
Hardliners Demand Expulsion of U.K. Ambassador – Associated Press
Australia: Iran Not A Rogue State – Reuters
Jordan’s King Wants Improved Ties With Iran – Associated Press
Korean Peninsula
N. Korea Threatens S. Korea With Nuclear War – Associated Press
North Korea Sends Top Diplomat to Russia – Voice of America
Drawing a Line in the Water – New York Times opinion
5 Myths about North Korea – Washington Post opinion
WikiLeaks
WikiLeaks, Round Three – Small Wars Journal (post-release – cutoff 10 Dec)
SWJ WikiLeaks Roundup – Small Wars Journal (pre-release)
WikiLeaks Taps Power of the Press – New York Times
Keeping Secrets WikiSafe – New York Times
WikiLeaks’ Advocates are Wreaking ‘Hacktivism’ – Washington Post
The First Global Cyber War Has Begun, Claim Hackers – The Guardian
Assange Supporters Plan Protests Worldwide – The Guardian
Amazon Hit by Web Service Failure – BBC News
Defenders of WikiLeaks Swarmed Wrong Target – New York Times
Pakistani Forces ‘Hamper’ U.S. Embassy – Washington Times
Opposition Leader: Cables Show Iran ‘Vulnerable’ – Associated Press
Wikileaks: Brazil Vulnerable to Terrorism – Associated Press
Ousted Honduran Leader Rejects Leaked Memo Charges – Associated Press
Report: Cables Show U.S. Concern at Swiss Iran Plan – Associated Press
Obama Calls Turkish PM Over Leaked Cables – Associated Press
America’s Unsavory Friends in Central Asia – Der Spiegel
U.S. Worried By Corruption In Uzbekistan – Reuters
Venezuela Acquires 1,800 Antiaircraft Missiles from Russia – Washington Post
Manipulating the Political Dwarves of Europe – Der Spiegel
Obama Calls Turkish and Mexican Leaders on Diplomatic Leaks – New York Times
WikiLeaks: U.S. Concern About Terrorism in Spain – Associated Press
U.S. Intel Hub to Counter Islamism In Spain – Reuters
Cables Show Ireland Irked Vatican on Sovereignty – Associated Press
Russia Trailed Litvinenko Killers ‘Until Britain Warned Them Off’ – The Guardian
Uribe Proposed Capturing Guerrillas in Venezuela – Associated Press
U.S. Envoy Called Honduran Prez Rebellious Teen – Associated Press
“Leaks Show Strength Of Egyptian Positions” – Reuters
The Internet’s Long War – Washington Post opinion
U.S. Department of Defense
Railgun, Futuristic Weapon, Tested by Navy – Washington Post
Army Sees Smart Phones Playing Important Role – Army Times
Army Wants ‘Men in Black’ Grenade Launchers by ’14 – Wired
Army Fumbles Away Chance to End Navy’s Streak – Stars and Stripes
United States
Obama Faces Fight over Missile Defense – Washington Post
How North Korea and Iran Test U.S. Diplomacy – Christian Science Monitor
Islam: In Converts, Authorities See Threats – Baltimore Sun
Holbrooke in Critical Condition After Surgery to Repair Heart – New York Times
Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke has Surgery for Tear in Aorta – Washington Post
Holbrooke Remains in Critical Condition – Washington Post
Guantanamo Transfer Ban in Spending Bill – Washington Post
Gitmo: Administration Should Look in the Mirror – Washington Post editorial
Radical Jihadism is Not a Mental Disorder – Washington Post opinion
Canada
Gang-related Shootings in Vancouver Leave 10 Wounded – New York Times
United Nations
U.N.Climate Talks End With Limited Agreements – Voice of America
Cancun Agreements Put 193 Nations on Track – Washington Post
Cancun Climate Summit Agrees Deal – BBC News
U.N. Climate Meeting OKs Green Fund in New Accord – Associated Press
Climate Talks End With Modest Steps, No Kyoto Deal – Reuters
The United (Muslim) Nations? – Washington Times editorial
Africa
Ruling Party in Southern Sudan Opts for Separation – Voice of America
Sudan’s Former Rebel SPLM Backs Independence for South – BBC News
Ivory Coast Poll Winner Tries to Govern From Hotel – Associated Press
Embattled Ivory Coast President Seeks Talks With Rival – Voice of America
Ivorian Rival Ouattara Tells Gbagbo to Leave – BBC News
Ivory Coast: Ouattara Says Gbagbo Must Quit Before Any Talks – Reuters
Somali Pirates Hijack Cargo Vessel Near India – Associated Press
In Africa, the Laureate’s Curse – New York Times opinion
Americas and Caribbean
Mexico: U.S. Guns Tied to Crime South of Border – Washington Post
Corruption Sweep in Mexico Unravels in the Courts – Los Angeles Times
Gunbattle Kills 11 in Western Mexican Town – Associated Press
Mexicans March in Support of ‘Craziest’ Kingpin – Associated Press
Venezuela Opponents Wary Of Chavez Decree Powers – Reuters
Haiti Candidates Reject Election Recount – BBC News
Candidates Reject Recount in Sloppy Haiti Election – Associated Press
Haiti: Good Intentions, Unexpected and Unfortunate Results – Los Angeles Times
Haiti Re-Opens Election Appeals in Plea for Calm – Associated Press
Palin: Haiti Needs ‘Military Airlift’ of Supplies – Associated Press
Would-be Haitian Contractors Miss Out on Aid – Associated Press
Asia Pacific
Japan to Shift Its Military Toward Threats From China – New York Times
New Japanese Defense Plan Emphasizes Threat of China – Washington Post
As China Rolls Ahead, Fear Follows – New York Times
Mongolian Activist Likely Released From China Jail – Associated Press
Philippine Leader Orders Release of 43 Health Workers – BBC News
Philippine Rebels Welcome Move to Free Detainees – Associated Press
Europe
Incoming Chief of Insead Sees the Strengths of Europe – New York Times
Russian Protests Erupt Over Soccer Fan’s Killing – New York Times
Hundreds Protest Against Russian Government – Associated Press
A Massacre Shows Power of Gangs in Rural Russia – New York Times
Russian Spy Named Advisor For Oil Company Rosneft – Reuters
Sweden Begins Terror Inquiry After Bombing in Stockholm – New York Times
Stockholm Blasts: Sweden Probes ‘Terrorist Attack’ – BBC News
Swedish Prime Minister Urges Tolerance – Washington Post
Swedes Shocked by 1st Terror Attack in 3 Decades – Associated Press
U.K. Search Amid Sweden Bomb Probe – BBC News
U.K. Police Search House In Stockholm Blasts Probe – Reuters
Kosovo Holds Historic Election as Division Persists – BBC News
Tensions Overshadow Kosovo’s First Parliamentary Poll – Voice of America
Kosovo Braced For Election, Outcome Uncertain – Reuters
Exit Poll: Ruling Party Leads Kosovo Elections – Associated Press
Kosovo’s PM Claims Poll Victory – BBC News
Kosovo PM Claims Victory But Coalition Needed – Reuters
Italy: Berlusconi Appeal to Senate over Confidence Vote – BBC News
Italy: Rival Says Berlusconi Wants to Stay PM to Avoid Trials – Associated Press
Italy: Berlusconi’s Survival Hopes Finely Balanced – Reuters
Middle East
Clinton Policy Speech Not Well Received in Middle East – Voice of America
Netanyahu Says Welcomes Shift In U.S. Peace Effort – Reuters
Israel’s Leader Does Not Want to Share Jerusalem – Associated Press
Palestinians Express Doubts Over 2-State Future – Associated Press
Israel Frees Radical Muslim Leader – Associated Press
Israeli Troops Kill 2 Palestinians on Gaza Border – Associated Press
Israel Says Troops Killed 2 Militants – Reuters
Jordan’s King Wants Improved Ties With Iran – Associated Press
Jordan Opposition Accuses Government of Apostasy – Associated Press
Egypt Protesters Say New Parliament Is ‘Void’ – Associated Press
Egyptians Protest Parliamentary Vote Results – Reuters
South Asia
New Backing for Gas Line Through Asia – New York Times
Getting Ahead in India Means Getting Out of Town – New York Times
China’s Envoy: Hopeful Of Free Trade Talks With India – Reuters
Bangladesh Garment Workers, Police Clash; 3 Dead, 100 Hurt – Associated Press
Sri Lanka Abolishes Tamil National Anthem – BBC News