4 March SWJ Roundup

US Naval Institute Daily – USNI

Real Clear World – RCP

Afghanistan

CIA-led Force May Speed Afghan Exit – AP

Panetta: Taliban’s Murder Tactics Show Their Weakness – AFPS

US Newspaper Says Quran Burning Followed a Chain of Mishaps – VOA

Conflicting Accounts Over Afghan Quran Burnings – AP

Afghan Army Chief Warns Against Another NATO Blunder – Reuters

How to Rebuild Trust in Afghanistan – WP opinion

Pakistan

Pakistan Proposes Curbs on Media – WP

Syria

Syrian Forces Shell Homs, Block Aid to Rebel Stronghold – VOA

Government Blocks Aid Convoy, Tightening Hold on Devastated Area – NYT

Red Cross Attempts Entry to Baba Amr for Third Time – BBC

Syria blocks Red Cross aid to Baba Amr – WP

Fresh Assault on Homs as Red Cross Seeks Access – AP

Syrian Rebels in Idlib Bide their Time – LAT

Syria Splits Along Sectarian Lines, Shaking Mideast – McClatchy

US Sees Iran’s Hand in Syrian Crackdown – WP

Turkey Compares Syrian Conflict to 1990s Balkans – AP

Turkey Says Assad's Forces Committing War Crimes – Reuters

China Offers Plan on Syria but Nixes Intervention – AP

Latest in Mysterious Car Bombings in Kills Three – LAT

Satellite Images Appear to Show Shelling of Homs – WP

Bearing Witness in Syria: A War Reporter’s Last Days – NYT

Iran

Obama, Netanyahu to Hold Critical Talks on Iran Options – VOA

US Backers of Israel Pressure Obama Over Policy on Iran – NYT

Iran Trumps Palestinians as Top US-Israel Issue – AP

Ahmadinejad Rivals Lead in Parliamentary Vote – VOA

Ahmadinejad Critics Lead after Vote – WP

Iran: Poll Turnout 'Slap' to West – BBC

Iranian Opposition Group Eyes Jordan Relocation – AP

Should Israel Strike Iran – WP opinion

Decoding Obama's Message on Iran – WP opinion

Egypt

Egypt Prepares to Draft Constitution – WP

Egypt Lawmakers Clash Over Writing Constitution – AP

US Says Ties With Egypt Still Strong After NGO Row – Reuters

Egypt Appoints New Judges for Nonprofit Trial – AP

Egypt Parliament Sees 'Interference' in Activists' Release – Reuters

Egypt’s Famed al-Azhar Mosque at a Crossroads – WP

Middle East / North Africa

Israeli Minister Says World Cannot Protect Israel – AP

Palestinians to Give Israelis Deadline on Talks – AP

Suicide Bombers Hit Yemen Army Camp, Kill Soldier – AP

Four Dead in South Yemen Blasts, Al Qaeda Blamed – Reuters

Freed of Gadhafi, Libya's Instability Only Deepens – AP

Muslim Brotherhood Forms Political Party in Libya – AP

Suicide Bomber Attacks Algerian Security Base – Reuters

Is Israel a Formal US Ally? – CSM editorial

The ‘One State’ Solution – WP opinion

Why Is America Obsessed With Israel? – FP opinion

United States

US Busts Multi-Million Dollar Counterfeiting Ring Linked to China – VOA

President Obama Says US Must Refine Energy Goals – VOA

Los Alamos Braces for Layoffs at Lab – NYT

Surveillance, Security and Civil Liberties – NYT editorial

Africa

Sudan’s Bashir Lashes Out at ICC – VOA

Sudan's Bashir Slams ICC Warrant for Defense Minister – Reuters

Rebel, Army Clashes Kill Nine in Somalia's Puntland – Reuters

Report: 10 Dead in Ethnic Clashes in Burkina Faso – AP

Americas

VP Biden Goes to Latin American Amid Drug Debate – AP

Drug Allegations May Hamper Former Mexico Ruling Party's Return – LAT

Three Killed by Bomb in Colombia – BBC

In Colombia, Freedom Nears After 14-Year Captivity – AP

Venezuela Releases Photos of Chavez with Castro – VOA

Brother of Peru's President In in Prison Transfer – AP

Asia Pacific

China to Up Defense Spending by 11.2 Pct in 2012 – AP

China Protest Village Elects Head – BBC

China Protest Leaders Elected to Lead Village – LAT

Protest’s Success May Not Change China – NYT

North Korea's Kim Orders High Alert During DMZ Visit – S&S

North Korea: Military Exercises Show US is ‘Double Faced – VOA

Japanese PM Says Government Shares Blame for Nuclear Disaster – NYT

Burma Democracy Leader Falls Ill During Campaign Rally – NYT

As Burma Thaws, Decades-Old Civil War Festers On – AP

A North Korean Corleone – NYT opinion

Europe

With Putin Ahead in Surveys, Voting Starts in Russia’s Presidential Election – VOA

Russian Presidential Vote Begins – BBC

Putin Heads Toward Russia’s Presidency – WP

Fear of Return to ’90s Hardship Fuels Support for Putin – NYT

Russia Youth Have Known Nothing but Putin, Won't Vote for Him – LAT

Russian Election: Putin Seeks Return to Kremlin – AP

Putin Set to Reclaim the Kremlin in Russian Vote – Reuters

French-German Border Shapes More Than Territory – NYT

South Asia

More Indians see Democracy as Burden – WP

Surveys Point to Election Blow for India's Gandhis – Reuters