22 December SWJ Roundup

Afghanistan

Petraeus Promises Will Rebuild Afghan Village Destruction – Stars and Stripes

Afghan Government Disbands Dozens of Private Security Firms – VOA

Afghan Air Force Gets its Wings, NATO Commander Says – AFPS

Afghan Official Blasts NATO for Civilian Deaths – Associated Press

Covering Marines at War, Through Facebook – New York Times

The Costs of War – Washington Post opinion

Pakistan

U.S., NATO Not Planning Ground Ops in Pakistan, Officials Say – AFPS

U.S. Denies Reports of Planned Pakistan Raids – Voice of America

NATO Denies U.S. Plans Ground Raids into Pakistan – Los Angeles Times

Pakistan’s Flawed Ideology – Washington Times opinion

Korean Peninsula

U.S.: North Korea Must Change Behavior Before Talks Can Resume – VOA

South Korea Remains on High Alert – Voice of America

South Korea Begins New Round of Military Drills – New York Times

South Korea Begins Massive New Military Drills – Los Angeles Times

South Korea Braces for Surprise Attack – Los Angeles Times

S. Korea to Stage Firing Drills Near Land Border – Associated Press

S. Korea Begins Routine Naval Drills Amid Tension – Associated Press

South Korea Army to Hold Huge Drill, North Silent – Reuters

Iraq

Iraqi Parliament Approves New Maliki Government– Voice of America

Iraqi Parliament Approves New Unity Government – Washington Post

After Months, Iraqi Lawmakers Approve a Government – New York Times

Iraqi Parliament Approves New Maliki Government – Los Angeles Times

Iraqi Parliament OKs New Government – Washington Times

Iraq Approves New Government With Maliki as PM – Reuters

New Iraqi Government Sworn In, at Last – Associated Press

Iraq’s Maliki: Strongman or Merely Strong? – Washington Post

Escalating Violence, Hostility Emptying Iraq of Christians – Associated Press

Al-Qaida in Iraq Threatens Attacks on Christians – Associated Press

Iran

U.S. Tightens Sanctions On Iran – Voice of America

U.S. Adds to Iran Sanctions Shortly After Nuclear Talks – New York Times

Iranian Filmmaker Panahi Receives Prison Sentence – Washington Post

Iranian Filmmaker Sentenced to Six Years in Prison – Los Angeles Times

Iran: Following Price Hike, Truckers Stay Off Roads – Washington Post

Energy Policy in Iran Leaves Many Gasping – New York Times

6.5 Earthquake Kills at Least 11 in Iran – Los Angeles Times

U.S. Offers Condolences, Help After Iranian Quake – Reuters

WikiLeaks

CIA Launches Task Force to Assess Impact of Cable Leaks – Washington Post

Sex and WikiLeaks – Los Angeles Times editorial

U.S. Department of Defense

Is Combat Experience Making Ranger School Unnecessary? – Stars and Stripes

Potential Recruits: Nearly 1 in 4 Fails Military Exam – Associated Press

Colleges Rethink ROTC After ‘Don’t Ask’ Repeal – New York Times

Bring ROTC Back to Elite Campuses – Washington Post opinion

A New Meaning for ‘Brothers in Arms’ – Washington Times opinion

United States

U.S. Senate Moves Toward Final Vote on Arms Treaty – Voice of America

Arms Treaty With Russia Headed for Ratification – New York Times

Nuclear Arms Pact with Russia Clears Senate Hurdle – Washington Post

GOP Senators Help Arms Pact Clear Hurdle – Washington Times

Senate Poised to Pass Nuclear Treaty – Los Angeles Times

Political Divide Undermines Obama’s Nuclear Goals – New York Times

Obama Administration Readies Indefinite Detention Order – Washington Post

Detainee Review Proposal Is Prepared for President – New York Times

10 Books to Help You Hone Your Leadership Skills – Washington Post

Right Decision on Targeted Killings – Washington Post editorial

United Kingdom

U.K. Terror Plot Aimed at British Landmarks, Shopping – Associated Press

Scotland ‘Pressured over Libyan Bomber Megrahi’ – BBC News

Africa

U.N. Chief Warns Ivory Coast Risks Return to Civil War – Voice of America

U.N. Chief Warns of Ivory Coast War – BBC News

U.N. Chief Warns That Ivory Coast Risks Civil War – Associated Press

“Blockade” Of U.N. In Ivory Coast Gets Critical – Reuters

U.S. to Increase Pressure Until Gbagbo Yields Ivory Coast Presidency – VOA

Ivory Coast’s Gbagbo Says World Can Review Poll – Reuters

Sudan’s South Faces Economic Challenges Ahead – Voice of America

U.N.: 2.8m at Risk if Violence Breaks Out in Sudan – Associated Press

Arab Countries Hold Talks Ahead of Sudan Vote – Associated Press

Kenya and Uganda Bolster Security – Washington Post

African Farmers Displaced as Investors Move In – New York Times

Americas

International Court Rules Against Mexico’s Army – Los Angeles Times

Family’s Triple Tragedy Highlights Mexico Impunity – Associated Press

Mass Kidnap Of Migrants Reported In Mexico – Reuters

Mexico Migrant Abduction Disputed – BBC News

Freed Mexican Pol: Kidnappers Had Political Motive – Associated Press

Death Toll From Mexico Crude-Oil Blast Rises to 29 – Associated Press

Venezuela to Make Lawmakers Vote With Their Parties – Reuters

Death Breathes Political Life into Argentina’s President – Los Angeles Times

Ex-Argentine Dictator Says Terrorists Run Country – Associated Press

Corruption “Rampant” In Dominican Republic – Reuters

Asia Pacific

China: East Meets West, but It Takes Some Practice – New York Times

6 Are Held in Attack on Chinese Investigative Journalist – New York Times

China Replaces Top Foreign Ministry Official – Associated Press

Thailand Ends State of Emergency in Bangkok – Associated Press

Filipino Gunmen Free 2 Malaysians After 10 Months – Associated Press

Europe

Russia: Kremlin Poker-Faced as U.S. Senate Mulls Arms Pact – Associated Press

Russia: Putin Makes Symbolic Visit in Ethnic Strife – New York Times

Young Russians Turn to Islam – Washington Post

Clashes in Belarus Show Resilience of Both Sides – New York Times

Italy: Defective Bomb Found on Rome Subway – New York Times

Czech Government Survives No-Confidence Vote – Reuters

U.K. Offers Troops, E.U. Seeks Answers for Snow Chaos – Associated Press

Middle East

Israel Plans Public Appeal to Ask U.S. to Free a Spy – New York Times

Palestinians, Israelis Trade Rockets, Airstrikes – Associated Press

The U.S. Needs to Get Tough with Israel – Los Angeles Times opinion

Saudi King Exits New York Hospital, Report Says – Reuters

South Asia

Russia Last of Major Powers to Seal Valuable Deals with India – Washington Post

Warm Russian, Indian Ties Outlive Cold War – Reuters

India Anti-sleaze Protests Held – BBC News