23 December SWJ Roundup
Afghanistan
U.N. Envoy Says Taliban Realize They Can’t Win – Associated Press
Taliban Insurgents Prepare to Attempt `Spectacular’ Attacks – Bloomberg
U.S. Medicines for Afghan Soldiers Disappear – Associated Press
Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Insurgents, Find Caches – AFPS
Suicide Attack Kills 1 Policeman in Afghanistan – Associated Press
Iran Stops Fuel Delivery, Afghanistan Says, Prices Are Rising – New York Times
Pakistan
Pakistan Parties Protest Possible Blasphemy Law Changes – CNN News
Korean Peninsula
China Seen Defusing Korea – Wall Street Journal
South Korean Military Prepares for Largest-Ever Live-Fire Drill – VOA
South Korea Begins New Round of Military Drills – New York Times
South Korea Military Begins Live-fire Drills – Los Angeles Times
S. Korea Holds Massive New Drills After North Attack – Associated Press
North Korea Response Muted to South’s Planned Drills – Reuters
N. Korea Says Ready to Fight “Holy War” Using Nuclear Deterrent – Reuters
Kim Jong Il: The Boy Who Cried Nuke? – Los Angeles Times opinion
Iraq
New Iraqi Cabinet Holds First Meeting – Voice of America
U.S. Officials Applaud Formation of New Iraqi Government – AFPS
Iraqi Reactions to a New Government – New York Times
Iraq’s North Seen as Next Trouble Spot – Wall Street Journal
Southern Iraqi City Eyes Break From Baghdad – Associated Press
Iraqi Churches Cancel Christmas Festivities – Associated Press
Iran
Prices in Iran Rise after Lifting of Subsidies – Los Angeles Times
Iran Opposition: ‘Dark Future’ Awaits the Economy – Associated Press
Islam
Crucifying Christians on Christmas – Washington Times editorial
WikiLeaks
WikiLeaks Founder Takes the Offensive – New York Times
U.S. Military Pushes U.N. Back Over Manning Treatment – FOX News
DMA Rescinds Memo on Restricted Access to Documents – Stars and Stripes
Former WikiLeaks Official Writing Tell-All Book – Reuters
U.S. Department of Defense
President Signs ‘Don’t Ask’ Repeal Act Into Law – American Forces Press Service
With Obama’s Signature, ‘Don’t Ask’ Is Repealed – New York Times
Obama Signs ‘Don’t Ask’ Repeal Bill – Washington Times
Standing Watch on Christmas – Washington Times editorial
United States
U.S. Senate Ratifies New Arms Treaty With Russia – Voice of America
Senate Approves U.S.-Russia Arms Treaty – American Forces Press Service
Senate Ratifies Nuclear-Arms Pact – Wall Street Journal
Senate Passes Arms Control Treaty With Russia, 71-26 – New York Times
Senate Ratifies New START; Obama Gets ‘Reset’ with Russia – Washington Times
Obama Hails Senate Vote to Back Russia Nuclear Treaty – BBC News
Senate Ratifies Nuke Pact, Delivering Win to Obama – Associated Press
Kremlin Hails Senate’s Approval of Nuclear Treaty – Associated Press
Russian Duma Could Ratify START Within Days – Reuters
Obama Gamble Pays Off With Approval of Arms Pact – New York Times
Feds Boost Security for Holiday Travelers – Washington Times
U.S. Preparing to Hold Some Guantanamo Inmates ‘Indefinitely’ – VOA
Congress Bars Gitmo Transfers – Wall Street Journal
Vote Hurts Obama’s Push to Empty Guantanamo Prison – New York Times
Intelligence Chief Not Briefed on Terror Arrests in Britain – Washington Post
Administration Defends Intelligence Director – New York Times
‘Axis of Evil’ Spins Closer – Washington Times opinion
Australia
Three Guilty of Plotting Sydney Army Base Attack – BBC News
3 Convicted in Terror Plot on Australian Army Base – Associated Press
Africa
Ally of Ivory Coast’s Ouattara Says Force Needed to Oust Gbagbo – VOA
Ivory Coast Opposition Wants Gbagbo Forced Out – Associated Press
U.N. Panel Accepts Ivory Coast Outtara’s Envoys – Reuters
International Community May Bolster Ivory Coast Force – Reuters
World Bank Cuts Ivorian Financing as Crisis Deepens – Reuters
French Urged to Leave Ivory Coast – BBC News
Ivorian Army Says Unified For Gbagbo Despite Pressure – Reuters
S. Sudan: A New Nation, to be Born of Scars – Los Angeles Times
U.N. Increases Troops in Somalia by 50 Percent – Associated Press
U.N. Council OKs Big Boost In A.U. Somalia Force – Reuters
Suicide Ignites Clashes in Tense Tunisian Town – Associated Press
Americas
To Root Out Dirty Police, Mexico Sends In a General – Wall Street Journal
Mexico City Leftist Mayor Rules Out Alliances In 2012 – Reuters
Mexico Investigates Report of 50 Missing Migrants – Associated Press
El Salvador Fears Mexico Drug Cartel Violence Overflow – BBC News
Venezuela Opposition Slams “Coup d’Etat” By Chavez – Reuters
Venezuela Bars Foreign Funding for NGOs – Associated Press
Brazil ‘Police Gun-running Gang’ Busted – BBC News
Bolivia Sends Formal Letter Recognizing Palestine – Associated Press
Argentina Former Leader Jorge Videla Jailed for Life – BBC News
Argentine Ex-Dictator Sentenced to Life in Prison – Associated Press
Salvadoran Sentenced to 30 Years For Cuba Bombings – Reuters
Jamaica Mayor Turned to Drug Baron to Fight Crime – Associated Press
40 People Lynched Amid Haiti Cholera Fears – Agence France-Presse
Asia Pacific
White House Summit For China’s Hu Set For January 19 – Reuters
China Speeds Plans to Launch Aircraft Carrier – Reuters
China Bans Use of English in Print, Internet – Voice of America
Thai Rangers Killed In Rebel Ambush – Reuters
Europe
Hungary: Military Pooling Atop E.U.-Presidency Goals – Defense News
After Russian Death, Inquiry Doors Open and Shut – New York Times
Russian Paper to Air WikiLeaks Corruption Material – Reuters
Pro-Kremlin Group Luring Youth With Spy Luster – Reuters
High Security Serb Nuclear Shipment Reaches Russia – Reuters
Belarus: 7 Presidential Candidates Face 15 Years – Associated Press
Summit Lets Turkey Flex Its Diplomatic Muscles – Reuters
Middle East
New Gaza War ‘A Question of When, Not If’ – BBC News
After Freeze, Settlement Building Booms in Israel – New York Times
Palestinians: Draft on Settlements Ready For U.N. – Reuters
Leaked Cable Stirs Animosities Between Palestinian Sides – New York Times
Jordanians Play Active Role in Al-Qaida – Associated Press
Roadblocks to Mideast Peace – Los Angeles Times opinion
South Asia
Opposition Launches Anti-Corruption Protests in India – Voice of America
U.K. Training Bangladesh ‘Death Squad’ – BBC News
U.S., U.K. Urged to Stop Training of Bangladeshi Force – Associated Press
