7 April SWJ Roundup
Afghanistan
U.S. Pledges Money to Jump-start Peace Program – Washington Post
Top Afghan Official Confirms Talks With the Taliban – New York Times
Taliban in Talks with Karzai Government – United Press International
NATO Kills Policeman Who Shot U.S. Trainers – Associated Press
Afghans Investigate Reports NATO Raid Killed Civilians – BBC News
Afghan Officials: 2-3 Men Suspected in U.N. Attack – Associated Press
Fatal Car Crash Sparks Afghan Protest – Voice of America
U.S. Troops Suffer More Catastrophic Injuries – Los Angeles Times
Al Qaeda Returns to Afghanistan – PBS opinion
Pakistan
Pakistan Rejects U.S. Taliban Report – BBC News
Pakistan Rejects US Assessment of Its Terror Fight – Associated Press
Four Children Killed in North-western Blast – BBC News
Pakistan’s Problem: It’s Not British Enough – Daily Telegraph opinion
Libya / Operation Odyssey Dawn
Changing Libyan Tactics Pose Problems for NATO – New York Times
NATO Officials say Gaddafi Using Human Shields – Washington Post
Libyan Rebels Bide Their Time – Los Angeles Times
Libyan Rebels Don’t Really Add Up to an Army – New York Times
Qaddafi Writes to Obama, Urging End to Airstrikes – New York Times
Gadhafi Sends Letter to Obama, Asks to End Air War – Associated Press
U.S. Rebuffs Letter Sent by Gaddafi – BBC News
Former U.S. Rep in Libya to Seek Gadhafi’s Exit – Associated Press
Top Libyans Said to Be Very Scared – Associated Press
Text of New Qaddafi Letter to Obama – New York Times
Immigrant Boat Capsizes Off Italy; 250 Missing – Associated Press
Should U.S. Warplanes Leave Libya? – Washington Post editorial
Haze of Humanitarian Imperialism – Washington Post opinion
What’s Obama’s Mission in Libya? – Real Clear Politics opinion
NATO Doesn’t Have What It Takes in Libya – Toronto Star opinion
Egypt
Egypt’s Former Minister Arrested Over Corruption – Associated Press
Battle for Egypt’s Future – Washington Post opinion
Yemen
Tens of Thousands Demand President’s Removal in Yemen – Voice of America
Saudi and Allies Focus on Yemen’s Saleh Exit – Reuters
Belated Realism on Yemen – New York Times editorial
Iraq
Gates in Baghdad for Talks With Iraqi Officials – Associated Press
Gates Visits Baghdad Ahead of U.S. Withdrawal – Reuters
Gates to Warn Iraqis Time is Running Out – Stars and Stripes
Gates: Some US Troops May Stay if Iraq Wants – Associated Press
Iran
U.S. Says Iran Is Meddling In Bahrain – Wall Street Journal
Iran Rewrites Its Own History – The National opinion
Syria
Syria Tries To Placate Sunnis And Kurds – New York Times
Syria’s Assad Makes Overture to Kurds After Demos – Associated Press
Dissidents From Syria Seek Haven in Lebanon – New York Times
Saudi Arabia
Gates Meets with Saudi King – Washington Post
Defense Chief Is on Mission To Mend Saudi Relations – New York Times
Gates Tries to Soothe Saudis Rattled by Unrest – Associated Press
Gates, Saudi King Discuss Defense Relationship – AFPS
U.S.-Saudi Relationship ‘In a Good Place,’ Gates Says – AFPS
Bahrain
Bahrain’s Rulers Tighten Their Grip on Opposition – New York Times
Oman
Oman Offers Lessons to a Region Embroiled in Protest – New York Times
Israel / Palestinians
Bid for State of Palestine Gets Support From IMF – New York Times
Netanyahu, Merkel Meet in Germany on Mideast – Associated Press
Israel to Germany: Drop Palestinian Statehood Plan – Associated Press
Former Israeli Defense Chiefs Push New Peace Plan – Voice of America
Israeli Ex-defence Chiefs Offer Palestinian Peace Plan – BBC News
Netanyahu Wary of Arab Revolutions – Washington Post
Poll: 32% of Palestinians Support Settler Attack – Associated Press
Palestinians: Women Rounded Up in Settler Killing – Associated Press
Mr. Goldstone’s Regrets – Boston Herald editorial
Goldstone’s Investigation a One-Sided Sham – Boston Globe opinion
Goldstone Hasn’t Absolved Israel – Washington Post opinion
Middle East / North Africa Unrest
Latest Developments in Arab World’s Unrest – Associated Press
Unintended and Intended Consequences – United Press International opinion
Arab Spring Threatens U.S. Bases – Foreign Affairs opinion
Japan Earthquake / Tsunami
Crisis at Japan Nuclear Plant Shifts to New Blast Risk – Voice of America
Japan Quake: Nitrogen Pumped into Nuclear Reactor – BBC News
Preventing Blasts a Focus at Japan Nuclear Plant – Associated Press
Japan Focuses on Hydrogen Buildup – Reuters
Cleaning Up Radioactive Water Could Take Decades – Los Angeles Times
U.N. Expert: Fukushima Not as Bad as Chernobyl – Associated Press
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks Chief Extradition Appeal Set for July – Associated Press
U.S. Department of Defense
Pay Would be Withheld Until Shutdown Resolved – Stars and Stripes
Africom Faces Historic Time Amid Growing Challenges – AFPS
Transcom Stays on Schedule Through Contingencies – AFPS
U.S. Army Deserter Denied Asylum by Germany – Stars and Stripes
United States
Obama to Get New War Policy Team – New York Times
National Security Team Gets a Reset – Washington Post
Budget Talks to Continue as Possible Government Shutdown Looms – VOA
Negotiators Race Against Clock for Budget Deal – Washington Post
Obama Meeting Fails to End Stalemate Over Federal Budget – New York Times
Obama Says Shutdown Would be ‘Inexcusable’ – Washington Post
Contingency Plan for Shutdown Packs Mean Punch – Los Angeles Times
Washington Braces for Shutdown – Washington Post
WH Looks Arrogant, Clueless on Gitmo – New York Post opinion
Political Correctness with Muslims Has to Stop – NRO opinion
Obama’s 21st-Century War – Foreign Affairs opinion
United Nations
U.N. Chief Heads to Washington for Talks – Associated Press
International Criminal Court
Flurry of Activity as ICC Tackles Current Wars – Associated Press
Africa
Ivory Coast Opposition Pounds at Strongman – New York Times
Ivory Coast: Gbagbo Repels Attack – BBC News
Ivory Coast: Gbagbo’s Home Under Fire – Associated Press
Ouattara Forces Lay Siege to Ivory Coast’s Gbagbo – Reuters
Nigerian President Backs Election Chief Despite Poll Delay – Voice of America
A Former Military Ruler Rises Again in Nigeria – Associated Press
Sudan Accuses Israel in Deadly Airstrike – Voice of America
Sudan Blocks Release of Independent Newspaper – Voice of America
Anniversary of Rwandan Genocide Brings Declarations, Warnings – VOA
Americas
Mexicans March Against Drug Violence – BBC News
59 Bodies Found in Pits in Mexican Border State – Associated Press
Official: Mexican Cartels Hiring Common Criminals – Associated Press
U.S. and Colombia Near Trade Pact – New York Times
Haiti’s Pop Star President Takes Conservative Tack – Associated Press
Haiti’s Leader Criticizes U.N. Military Focus – Associated Press
Hope Amid the Obstacles in Haiti – Miami Herald editorial
Asia Pacific
U.S. Diplomat Sharply Criticizes China on Rights – New York Times
Voices Behind China’s Protest Calls – Associated Press
Chinese Artist / Activist Investigated for ‘Economic Crimes’ – Reuters
U.S.: North Korea May Be Considering More Attacks – Reuters
Activist Group Says Thailand Used Cluster Shells – Associated Press
Thailand ‘Admits Cluster Bombing’ – BBC News
Vietnam Detains 2 Prominent Dissidents – Associated Press
Philippine Tribal Gunmen Free Teachers on Mindanao – BBC News
Europe
Portugal Seeks Bail-out from E.U. – BBC News
Tunisian Migrants Open Tensions in Europe – New York Times
Turkey Replaces Coup Plot Prosecutors – Associated Press
South Asia
Mumbai Attacks in 2008 Still Divide India and Pakistan – Washington Post
Hunger Strike Focuses Anger on Indian Corruption – Associated Press