22 April SWJ Roundup (Updated)

Afghanistan

Gates: Spring Fighting Season Just Beginning – Stars and Stripes

Gates Foresees Turning Point in Afghanistan War – Associated Press

Once Under Siege, a Base Breathes Easier – New York Times

NATO, Afghan Forces Make ‘Huge’ Gains in North – AFPS

Commander in Eastern Afghanistan Notes Progress – AFPS

International Security Assistance Force Operations Update – AFPS

Pakistan

U.S., Pakistani Military Chiefs Trade Barbs – Washington Post

Mullen: Meeting Reaffirms U.S.-Pakistan Ties – AFPS

Fight Against Extremists Stretches Pakistan’s Military – AFPS

U.S. Missiles Kill 25 People in Pakistan Tribal Area – Associated Press

Pakistan Drone Attack ‘Kills 25’ – BBC News

U.S. Drone Strike Kills Five in Pakistan N. Waziristan – Associated Press

Karachi Blast Kills 15, Criminal Gangs Suspected – Reuters

Acquittals in Pakistan Rape Case – BBC News

Supreme Court Frees 5 Accused of Gang Rape – Los Angeles Times

Pakistan Court Frees 5 in Rape Case – Washington Post

Greg Mortenson ‘Facing Lawsuit’ – BBC News

Libya / Operation Odyssey Dawn

Libyan Rebels Advance; U.S. Will Deploy Drones – New York Times

U.S. Role in Libyan Conflict Widens – Washington Post

Gates: Obama OKs Predator Strikes in Libya – AFPS

U.S. Deploys Predator Drones in Libya – Voice of America

U.S. Flies Armed Drones over Libya – BBC News

Obama Sends Armed Drones to Help NATO – New York Times

U.S. Begins Using Predator Drones in Libya – Los Angeles Times

Obama OKs Use of Armed Drone Aircraft in Libya – Voice of America

Libyan Rebels Seize Border Outpost as Fighting Rages – Voice of America

Rebels Seize Western Border Crossing – Washington Post

Libyan Ground Forces Degraded by Up to 40 Percent – Reuters

Libya Arming Civilians to Fight Any NATO Attack – Reuters

Drone Attacks in Libya: A Mistake – Washington Post opinion

What Happens after Gaddafi is Removed? – Washington Post opinion

Egypt

Egypt to End The Ubiquity Of Mubarak – New York Times

Egyptian Islamists Call for Release of Blind Sheik – Associated Press

Christian Governor Must Go, South Egypt Protesters Say – Reuters

Yemen

Gulf Nations Offer Yemen’s Leader an Exit Plan – New York Times

Gulf Bloc Offers New Proposals to End Yemen Crisis – Associated Press

New Gulf Plan Seeks 3-Month Power Transfer in Yemen – Reuters

Yemen’s Saleh Conditionally Welcomes Transition Plan – Reuters

Mass Rallies in Yemen, For and Against President – Associated Press

Vast Crowds Rally in Yemen For and Against Saleh – Reuters

Syria

Thousands Demonstrate in Cities Across Syria – Associated Press

Syrian Security Forces Open Fire at Demonstrators – Associated Press

Syria Crowds Begin New Protests – BBC News

Secretive Security Forces Keep Syria Assad in Power – Los Angeles Times

Syria Decrees End Emergency Rule – BBC News

Protesters and Government Mobilize for Friday – New York Times

Syrian Activists Vow Largest Protests to Date – Associated Press

Syria Activists Issue Joint Statement on Democracy – Reuters

Iraq

Iraq PM Tells Mullen Iraqi Troops Can Take Over – Associated Press

Saddam Confidant Acquitted in 1994 Assassination – Associated Press

Iran

Iran Sacking Row Hints at Ahmadinejad Power Struggle – BBC News

Bahrain

Bahrain Takes Aim at Middle Class – Washington Post

American Physicians Protest Crackdown on Medical Staff – New York Times

Prominent Bahraini Rights Activist Goes on Trial – Reuters

Shi’ite Mosque Demolitions Raise Tension in Bahrain – Reuters

Oman

Protesters Stage Oman’s Biggest Pro-Reform Demonstration – Reuters

Israel / Palestinians

Israeli Intellectuals Back Palestinian State – Washington Post

U.N., Palestinians Urge Action on Mideast Peace – Voice of America

U.N. Urges Bold Steps to Relaunch Mideast Peace – Reuters

Protesters for and Against Palestinian State Clash – New York Times

Middle East / North Africa Unrest

Tracking protests across Mideast, North Africa – Washington Post

Latest Developments in Arab World’s Unrest – Associated Press

Terrorism

Jihadists Use Mobiles as Propaganda Tools – BBC News

Piracy

S. Korean Commandos Storm Ship after Pirate Attack – Associated Press

‘Pirate Negotiator’ Charged in U.S. – BBC News

U.S. Department of Defense

No ‘Silver Bullet’ Yet Found to Stop IED Attacks – Stars and Stripes

Pentagon Seeks New Ways to Foil Buried Explosives – Washington Times

Mark Center: Pentagon Used Faulty Data – Washington Post

Commercial Satellites Could Rent Space for Military – Washington Post

Warfighting Lab Experiments with Robotic Trucks – Marine Corps Times

Army, Navy Add Citizenship Option to Boot Camp – Associated Press

United States

GAO: Agency Spats Slow Visa Checks for Terrorists – Washington Times

Bill Seeks to Designate Drug Cartels as Terrorists – New York Times

U.S. Hands over Terror Suspect to Germany – Associated Press

WikiLeaks Suspect’s Backers Confront Obama – Wall Street Journal

Military Interventions We Don’t Plan For – Washington Post opinion

Australia

Australia to Review Charges of Sexism in Its Military – New York Times

United Nations

U.N. Chief Hopes for Russia Support for Second Term – Reuters

Africa

Nigerian President Calls Out More Security Forces – Voice of America

Nigeria Unrest ‘Recalls Biafra’ – BBC News

Vote Delayed in 2 Nigerian States After Riots – Associated Press

Sudan: Bashir ‘Responsible’ for Darfur – BBC News

Southern Sudan: Soldiers Killed in Rebel Attack – BBC News

Ivory Coast Court Chief N’dre Rejects Blame – BBC News

Protests in Uganda Over Rising Prices Grow Violent – New York Times

Somalia President Says Will Stand for Re-election – Reuters

Americas

Driving Mexico’s ‘Highway of Death’ – Washington Post

Drug Violence Puts Dent in Mexico City’s Easter Exodus – Los Angeles Times

Mexican Authorities Find 37 in New Mass Grave – Reuters

Mexico Catches Cartel Lawyer, Hires U.S. Law Firm – Associated Press

Drug Gangs Muscle into New Territory: Central America – McClatchy

Haiti Confirms Martelly Victory – BBC News

Haitian President-elect: ‘Change is Coming’ – Voice of America

Asia Pacific

Japan Seals off No-go Zone Around Nuclear Plant – Associated Press

Video Emerges of Chinese Crackdown Near Tibetan Monastery – VOA

Clashes Erupt in Shanghai as Truck Drivers Strike Near Port – Reuters

N. Koreans Accuse South of Kidnapping, Beatings – Associated Press

Mosque Attack Shows Changes in Indonesia Terrorism – Associated Press

Security Tight at Indonesian Churches Over Plot – Associated Press

Troops From Thailand, Cambodia in Border Clash – Associated Press

New Thai-Cambodian Border Clash – BBC News

6 Killed in Thai, Cambodia Army Clash on Border – Associated Press

Europe

Russia Says Kills Al Qaeda Militant in North Caucasus – Reuters

Spain’s Release of ETA Convict Causes Uproar – New York Times

Belarus Leader Blames Excess of Democracy for Bombing – New York Times

Turkey: Kurds Renew Movement for Rights and Respect – New York Times

South Asia

U.N. to Release War Crimes Report Despite Sri Lankan Warning – VOA

U.N.: Sri Lanka May Have Killed 40,000 Civilians – Washington Post