15 December SWJ Roundup
Afghanistan
War Review Cites Strides, Less Confident of Governance – Washington Post
Intelligence Reports Offer Dim Views of Afghan War – New York Times
Classified Reports Counter Optimism on Afghan War – Los Angeles Times
White House: Afghan Review will Support July Drawdown – Associated Press
U.S. Officials See Progress, Problems in Afghan War – Associated Press
Taliban Down But Not Out In Afghanistan’s Kandahar – Reuters
Holbrooke’s Death Leaves Major Void in Afghan Strategy – Washington Post
Post-Holbrooke Question: ‘What Now?’ – New York Times
Holbrooke’s Death Complicates Af-Pak Peace Efforts – Associated Press
Envoy Post to Remain After Holbrooke’s Death – Voice of America
Suicide Attack Retaliation for Incursion into Taliban Heartland – Stars and Stripes
NATO Service Member Dies in Southern Afghanistan – Associated Press
Failure in Afghanistan Not an Option – Washington Times opinion
Vietnam Syndrome – Washington Times opinion
Pakistan
Mullen Meets With Pakistanis to Align Interests, Goals – AFPS
Mullen Expresses Impatience With Pakistan on Visit – New York Times
Top U.S. Officer: Pakistan Knows What We Want – Associated Press
Pakistan Islamic Party ‘to Withdraw from Coalition’ – BBC News
Islamic Party Quits Pakistan Government Over Minister – Reuters
Sacred Shi’ite Ritual Tests Pakistan’s Security Resolve – Reuters
Iraq
Sunni-Backed Politician to Join Iraqi Government – Associated Press
Roadside Bombs Kills 3 And Wound 32 In Iraq – Reuters
Iraqi Shoe Thrower Signs His First Book in Beirut – Associated Press
Iran
Foreign Ministry Spokesman: No Change in Policy With Sacking of Mottaki – VOA
Iran President Faces Anger at Home Over Firing FM – Associated Press
Iran Says Bomb Kills Dozens Near Mosque – Associated Press
Korean Peninsula
South Korean Drills Draw More Threats from North Korea – Washington Post
South Korea Holds Nationwide Air Raid Drill – New York Times
S. Korea Stages Mass Evacuation Drill Amid Tension – Associated Press
North Korean Nuclear Ability Seen to Far Outpace Iran’s – New York Times
Reports Suggest Additional N. Korea Nuclear Facilities – Voice of America
South Korea Suspects North Has More Uranium Sites – Reuters
North Korea Digging Tunnel For Spring Nuclear Test – Reuters
U.S. Envoy Calls Korean Peninsula Division a Tragedy – Associated Press
WikiLeaks
WikiLeaks, Round Three – Small Wars Journal (post-release – cutoff 10 Dec)
SWJ WikiLeaks Roundup – Small Wars Journal (pre-release)
Poll: Americans Say WikiLeaks Harmed Public Interest – Washington Post
WikiLeaks Founder Assange Granted Bail – Voice of America
WikiLeaks Founder Granted Bail, But Not Yet Freed – Washington Post
Wikileaks Founder Assange Bailed, But Release Delayed – BBC News
Court Grants Bail to WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange – Reuters
Release on Bail of WikiLeaks Founder Is Delayed by Appeal – New York Times
Assange Granted Bail, but Sweden Appeals – CNN News
WikiLeaks Prompts Kenyan Leaders’ Push for Recall of U.S. Envoy – VOA
U.S. Memos: Mubarak’s Son as President Tough Sell – Associated Press
U.S. Department of Defense
Concern over Anti-satellite Weapons – The Economist
New Showdown: House Plans Vote on Military Gay Ban – Associated Press
Amos Suggests DADT Repeal Could Result in Casualties – Washington Post
Marine Commandant Concluded DADT Repeal May Risk Lives – Stars and Stripes
‘Birther’ Trial: Lakin Facing Jail Time for Guilty Plea – Stars and Stipes
Court Martial: Soldier Can’t Present Photo of Dead Civilian – Associated Press
Air Force Blocks Media Sites, Including NYT – Wall Street Journal
Air Force Blocks Sites That Posted Secret Cables – New York Times
United States
World Reacts to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke’s Death – Voice of America
World Pays Tribute to Holbrooke – BBC News
World Pays Tribute to Holbrooke: ‘The Bulldozer’ – Associated Press
Defense Leaders Pay Tribute to Holbrooke – AFPS
Mullen: Af-Pak Region Will Feel Loss of Holbrooke – AFPS
START Treaty Debate Looms – Washington Times
Blocked Bill May Weaken Armed Services Panels – Associated Press
18 from Colombian Rebel Group Charged in 2003 Kidnappings – Washington Post
U.S. Court Indicts Dutch FARC Rebel Tanja Nijmeijer – BBC News
VA Man Used Facebook to Threaten D.C. Area Bombings – Washington Post
United Kingdom
SAS Commander Resigned from Army over Defence Cuts – The Sun
Africa
Referendum on Oil-rich Sudan Province Likely Delayed – Washington Times
Sudan’s Highest Court to Probe Vote Complaints – Reuters
Bombs Hit South Sudan Before Vote – Associated Press
Sudan Police Arrest Women Protesting at Flogging Video – Reuters
Pressure Mounts on Ivory Coast President to Step Down – VOA
Ivory Coast’s Ouattara Steps Up Pressure on Rival – Associated Press
Ivory Coast’s Ouattara Party Urges Street Action – Reuters
ICC Prosecutor to Name Suspects in Kenya Poll Violence – BBC News
ICC Prosecutor to Name Kenya Violence Suspects – Reuters
Kenya Braces for Violence After ICC Announcement – Associated Press
U.K., Canada: Kenya Must Sue for School-Fund Theft – Associated Press
Nigeria May Drop Bribery Charges Against U.S. Ex-VP – VOA
Under Pressure, Ethiopia Plans Crackdown on Baby Business – VOA
Americas and Caribbean
Politics Enables Mexican Fugitive to Defang a Law – New York Times
Mexican Border City Hits 3,000 Dead in Drug War – Associated Press
La Familia Party Leads Mexico Police to Nazario Moreno – BBC News
Mexican President: Party Led to Drug Lord’s Demise – Associated Press
Mexico Marijuana Growers Learn New Tricks From U.S. – Reuters
Venezuela: Chavez Seeks Decree Powers for 1 Year – Associated Press
Chavez’s Decree Move Enrages Foes in Venezuela – Reuters
Asia Pacific
10 Filipino Soldiers Killed by Rebels Before Truce – Associated Press
Europe
Raid on Islamic Groups in Germany – New York Times
German Police Raid Homes Linked to Islamist Groups – Associated Press
Sweden Probes Blasts, Seeks Links to Other Attacks – Reuters
U.K. Mosque: Stockholm Bomber Didn’t Seem Violent – Associated Press
Legal Cases to Determine Russia’s Future with the West – Washington Post
Russian Arms Sales to Reach $10 Billion This Year – Associated Press
President Medvedev Says Russia Must Plug Brain Drain – Reuters
Moscow Riot Police Deployed Amid Ethnic Tensions – Associated Press
Italy: Berlusconi Survives Vote of Confidence – New York Times
Italy: PM Berlusconi Survives Confidence Vote – Washington Post
Berlusconi Barely Wins Confidence Vote in Italy – Associated Press
Berlusconi Narrowly Survives Italy Confidence Vote – Reuters
Violence Erupts In Rome After Berlusconi Wins Vote – Reuters
Greece Paralyzed by General Strike Against Reforms – Associated Press
Turkey’s Entry Bid Scores Mixed Points In E.U. Debate – Reuters
Kosovo: KLA Behind Deadly Human Kidney Trade – Associated Press
Kosovo Leader Was Criminal Mafia Boss – Reuters
Middle East
U.S. Envoy Meets Palestinian President – Voice of America
Envoy Says U.S. Committed to Palestinian State – Associated Press
Hamas Rally Celebrates 23rd Anniversary – Voice of America
Palestinian Kids Play Risky Game With Israel Police – Reuters
Bethlehem Tourism Swells as Violence Ebbs – Associated Press
Palestinian Firefighters Barred From Israeli Fete – Associated Press
Another Chance for Progress in the Middle East – Washington Post editorial
Palestinians Must End Cycle of Evasion – Los Angeles Times opinion
South Asia
Chinese Premier on Trust-Building Trip to India – Associated Press
China’s Wen In India to Focus on Trade Despite Mistrust – Reuters
