14 December SWJ Roundup
US Naval Institute Daily – USNI
Real Clear World – RCP
Afghanistan
Afghanistan Plan Would Reduce NATO Combat Role – NYT
US Troops to Shift to Advisory Role in Afghanistan – LAT
Panetta Arrives in Afghanistan to Assess Progress – AFPS
Panetta in Afghanistan, Calls 2011 a 'Turning Point' – VOA
Panetta in Kabul as US Ties with Pakistan Erode – AP
Allen Cites Time of Optimism in Afghanistan – AFPS
Allen: Politics Won't Determine Afghan Drawdown – Reuters
ISAF Operations Summary – AFPS
Pakistan
US Looks to Mend Ties with Pakistan – WP
US Freezes $700m in Pakistan Aid – BBC
US and Pakistan Move to Impose Financial Penalties on One Another – TT
US Move to Hold Aid Strains Ties With Pakistan – Reuters
Panetta: Stable Pakistan Relationship Critical to Afghanistan Success – AFPS
Strained Ties with Pakistan Hinder Panetta – AP
NATO: Pakistan Talking Again to US-led Coalition – AP
Pakistan Says Trust in US Evaporating – UPI
New Laws Protect Women from Abuse in Pakistan – AP
Associate: Pakistan President Had 'Mini-Stroke' – AP
Pakistan Police Rescue 54 Chained Students from Madrassa – LAT
Police Rescue Students from 'Torture Dungeon' in Karachi – TT
Pakistani Police Rescue 54 Chained Students From Madrassa – Reuters
Pakistani Democracy Headed for Life Support – UPI opinion
Iraq
US Troops Scramble to Hand Off Last-Minute 'Details' to Iraqis – CSM
US Leaving Iraqi Comrades-in-Arms in Limbo – NYT
Invasion, Fallout Changed US and Iraq – WP
What Iraqis Think of American Withdrawal in Baghdad – NYT
Iraqi PM Urges US Firms to Help Rebuild Country – VOA
Iraq PM Calls for US Investment – BBC
Iraq's Oil Police Gear Up for Attacks as US Withdraws – Reuters
Iraqi Air Force Moves Ahead with Fighter Squadron as US Exits – S&S
NATO to End Iraqi Training Mission Dec. 31 – UPI
Iraqi’s US Visit Stirs ‘Grave Concern’ – WT
Iraq after US Pullout: Not a Doomsday Scenario – CSM opinion
Iran
Leaders Defiant, But Iranians Fear War – WP
Expert: Preventing Iran’s Nuclear Goals Still Possible – WP
Iran Says It Will Not Return US Drone – VOA
Iran Rejects U.S. Request for Return of Drone – NYT
Iran Refuses to Return US Drone – BBC
Iran Wants US Apology Over Drone – WP
Iran Intelligence Chief on Rare Visit to Saudi Arabia – AP
Close the Strait of Hormuz – WT editorial
Syria
Syrian Defectors Kill 7 Security Force Members in Revenge Attack – VOA
Deadly Clashes Hit Northern Syria – BBC
UN Divisions Deepen as Death Toll Rises by 1,000 in Just 10 Days – TT
More Than 30 Are Killed as Sectarian Tensions Grow – NYT
The Free Syrian Army Mounts Force Against Assad – WP
Syria Death Toll Hits 5,000 as Insurgency Spreads – Reuters
Diplomats Distressed About Syrian Unrest – VOA
UN Human Rights Chief: Syria Should be Referred to ICC – FP
Assad's Days are Numbered, Rice Says – UPI
Syrian Blogger Faces Criminal Charges – AP
Syrian Alawite Figure Speaks Out Against Violence – Reuters
Middle East / North Africa
Beirut Bank Seen as a Hub of Hezbollah’s Financing – NYT
Palestinian Flag Raised over UNESCO HQ – VOA
Palestinian Flag Raised at UNESCO HQ – BBC
Israel Govt Adviser Doubts Hamas Control Over Gaza – Reuters
Radical Jewish Settlers Clash With Israeli Troops – NYT
Settlers Attack Israeli Soldiers – NYT
Arsonists Torch Jerusalem Mosque – AP
Yemen 'Set to Release Protesters' – BBC
Yemeni Police Arrest 6 Al-Qaida Militants – AP
Yemen Holds Six Al Qaeda Suspects – Reuters
Egypt Elections Enter Second Round – BBC
Egypt Set for Next Round of Elections – TT
Islamist Vision of 'Sin-Free' Tourism Raises Alarm in Egypt – LAT
Tribal Elders Broker End to Fighting in Libya Region – Reuters
'Beware The Arab Spring' – UPI opinion
Hezbollah’s Hypocritical Resistance – NYT opinion
Egypt’s Liberals Adrift – NYT opinion
International Criminal Court
Next ICC Prosecutor Warns Against Sex Crimes – AP
International Court of Justice
UN Elects 5th Member to International Court – AP
US Department of Defense
Congress Agrees on Pentagon Cuts – WP
Lawmakers Poised to Pass Bill Authorizing 1.6 Percent Pay Hike – S&S
Pentagon Report: Major Problems with F-35 Performance, Components – FWST
Quantico Training Boom Brings in More Marines – MCT
22nd Navy Commander Fired This Year – S&S
United States
US Probing Alleged Cyber-Attack Plot by Venezuela, Iran – WT
Federal Hiring of Veterans Reaches 20-Year High – AFPS
Homelessness Down Among US Veterans – S&S
Immigration Crackdown Also Snares Americans – NYT
With Port Actions, Occupy Oakland Tests Labor Leaders – NYT
Meddling with Terror Detainees – WP editorial
Don't let Voice of America Broadcasts Go Static – CSM opinion
Africa
US Defense Chief Says Djibouti is Key Counterterror Ally – VOA
Panetta Visits US Base in Djibouti – WP
Panetta Thanks Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa – AFPS
Kenyan Forces Pledge Further Push Into Somalia – AP
UN Commander Outlines Challenges in South Sudan – S&S
US Drone Crashes at Seychelles Airport – AP
Why Congo's Elections Matter So Much to Neighbors – CSM
East Congo Protesters Arrested – VOA
Congo President Rejects British MP Accusations of Mining Fraud – VOA
UN Chief Visits a Safer Somali Capital – CSM
ICC Judges Refer Malawi to UN – BBC
Mali Arrests French 'Kidnappers' – BBC
Americas
Mexico Says Captured Cartel Leader Had Arsenal – AP
Mexican Police: Weapons Found at Protest Site – AP
2 Students Dead in Clash with Mexico Police – LAT
Mexican Worshippers Underwhelmed by Papal Visit – AP
Why Venezuela is Key to Quashing the FARC – CSM
Venezuela: Gearing Up for Campaign, Chavez Boosts Spending – AP
Venezuela: 2 More Years of House Arrest for Anti-Chavez Judge – AP
Eight Charged in Siemens Argentina Case – BBC
18 Cubans Arrive to Honduras After 10 Days at Sea – AP
In Cuba, Old Clunkers and Soviet Cars Now for Sale – Reuters
One Village at a Time in Haiti – CSM
Asia Pacific
Japan to Pick Lockheed’s F-35 as New Stealth Fighter – WP
China Dispatches Largest Patrol Ship to East China Sea – TT
US Envoy: Better Ties With Burma No Threat to China – VOA
China 'Regrets' S. Korean Coast Guard Death – VOA
China Sets Prudent, Pro-Active Policies for 2012 – Reuters
China Dangles More Incentives Ahead of Taiwan Election – Reuters
China Executes About 4,000 People a Year – LAT
Philippines Arrests Former Official Accused of Election Fraud – NYT
Burma’s Lifeless Capital Stands Aloof, Surrounded by Poverty – NYT
Heir-Apparent's Hair's Apparent in North Korea Capital – Reuters
Political Impasse Leaves Papua New Guinea with 2 Governments – NYT
Papua New Guinea in Crisis Over Rival Leaders – AP
China’s Human Rights Regression – WT opinion
Europe
European Commission Chief Assails Britain Over Treaty Veto – NYT
Europe Tense Over British Veto at Summit – WP
UK Conservatives Take Poll Lead After EU Veto – Reuters
Thousands of Poles Protest Against New EU Treaty – Reuters
Medvedev Announces First Session of Russia's New Duma – VOA
Russian Journalists Axed After Tough Election Coverage – NYT
Russia: Anti-Putin Photo Not Tolerated – WP
US Senate Panel to Debate Bill on Russia Protests – WP
Russia’s Putin a Hero of Kosovo Serb Defiance – AP
France: De Villepin Plans to Challenge Sarkozy – NYT
4 Killed in Attack in Belgium – VOA
Deadly Attack Rocks Belgian City – BBC
Attack in Belgian City Leaves 5 Dead, 122 Wounded – AP
Grenade Attack on Belgian Bus Shelter Kills 4 – NYT
Man Throws Grenades and Fires on Shoppers in Liege, Belgium – LAT
Gunman Turns Belgian Christmas Market Into Bloodbath – Reuters
Italy: Gunman Kills 2 in Market in Florence – AP
Italian Kills Senegalese Traders – BBC
Italian Kills Two Africans in Apparent Racist Attack – Reuters
Swiss Charge Three in Nuclear Weapons Case – Reuters
French Prosecutors Seek Life for Carlos the Jackal – Reuters
South Asia
Decade Later, Security Top Notch in India's Parliament – NYT
