Afghanistan

10th Mountain Adds Job Program to Win Over Enemy - S&S

13 Die as Van Hits Roadside Bomb in Afghanistan - AP

Homemade Bomb Kills 13 Civilians in South Afghanistan - Reuters

French Ex-hostage Suggests Ransom Paid to Taliban - AP

ISAF Operations Roundup - AFPS

Pakistan

CIA Idles Drone Flights from Base in Pakistan - WP

Pakistan Requests US Close Drone Base - AP

UK, Pakistani Leaders Hold Terror Talks in London - AP

Pakistan College Contest: Praise for bin Laden - AP

2 Swiss Kidnapped in SW Pakistan - AP

Syria

Syrians Take to Streets as Clinton Warns Assad Regime - VOA

'Hundreds of Thousands' Join Anti-Assad Protests - BBC

In Syria, Protests and Disorder Grow - WSJ

Tens of Thousands of Syrians Protest in Central City of Hama - NYT

Huge Protests Grip Syria; 14 Killed in Clashes - AP

Syrian Forces Kill 24, Protesters Tell Assad to Go - Reuters

14 Killed as Syrian Protests Spread - VOA

In Syria, Two Different Flavors Of Street Protests - NPR

Syrian President Sacks Governor of Central City - AP

Syrian Self-destruction - WP opinion

Libya

Gadhafi Role Blocking African Union Resolution on Libya - VOA

Muammar Gaddafi Threatens Europe - BBC

Gaddafi Threatens to Attack Europe - WP

Qaddafi Threatens Europe With Attacks - NYT

Defiant Gadhafi Threatens Attacks in Europe - AP

Libyan Rebel Strategy Depends on Outside Military Help - VOA

Rockets Push Back Rebels South of Libyan Capital - Reuters

How Limited is the US Mission in Libya? - S&S

Sudanese Army Seizes Southern Libyan Town - DT

African Union Offers to Host Libya Ceasefire Talks - Reuters

African Union Dodges Issue of Gadhafi's Role - AP

Libyan Women Take Up Arms - WP

Libya's Abandoned Stockpiles Attract Smugglers - Reuters

A Two-edged Sword in Libya - WP opinion

Yemen

In Yemen, Violence Fuels Economic Collapse - WP

Tens of Thousands Stage Opposing Rallies in Political Crisis - VOA

Yemen Officers Arrested for Betraying President - AP

Israel / Palestinians

Greece Bans Ships from Leaving Ports for Gaza Flotilla - VOA

Greece Bars Boats Leaving Greek Ports for Gaza - AP

Greece Puts Halt to Gaza Flotilla in a Win for Israel - CSM

Stuck in Dock, Flotilla Activists See the Hand of Israel - NYT

Greeks Turn Back US Protesters Bound for Gaza - AP

Diplomats: Mideast Quartet to Meet on July 11 - AP

Gaza Flotilla: Dead in the Water in Greece? - NYT opinion

Iraq

Iraq Cracks Down on Iran-Backed Shiite Militias - NYT

Iran

Iran Funnels New Weapons to Iraq and Afghanistan - WSJ

Opposition to Iran's Rulers Growing - Reuters

Iran Keeps Snooping Online; US Struggles to Intervene - WP

Report: Bolivia Chief Apologized for Iranian Visit - AP

Lebanon

Lebanon: Press Divided Over UN Warrants for Hariri Murder - BBC

Lebanon: Hariri Tribunal Indictments to Widen Political Strife - Reuters

Lebanon: Hezbollah Poised to Ride Out Indictments - AP

Egypt

Thousands in Cairo Return to Tahrir Square to Protest - NYT

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Welcomes US Talks - AP

Morocco

Moroccans Vote on Constitutional Reforms - VOA

Moroccans Approve King's Reforms - BBC

Moroccans Vote for Changes - NYT

Moroccan Voters Approve Constitutional Changes - LAT

Moroccans Overwhelmingly Approve New Constitution - AP

Moroccan King Scores Landslide Win in Reform Vote - Reuters

Middle East / North Africa

Bahrain: Sunni Leaders Begin Talks with Shia Groups - BBC

Tensions High as Bahrain Dialogue Looms - Reuters

Bahrain's Shiite Party to Join Talks With Monarchy - AP

Jordan's PM Reshuffles Cabinet - AP

Latest Developments in Arab World's Unrest - AP

"Arab Srping": Israel is the Solution, Not the Problem - WT opinion

Al Qaeda

Bin Laden Document Trove Reveals Strain on al-Qaeda - WP

US Department of Defense

Panetta Takes Oath, Busy First Day as Defense Secretary - VOA

Panetta Takes Over at Pentagon, Cites Priorities - AP

Panetta Pledges 'No Hollow Force' on His Watch - AFPS

Ministering to Soldiers, and Facing Their Struggles - NYT

Gates Says Fired DIA Analyst Should Know Why - Politico

Possible Liberty Transfer Surprises US Army, AF - DN

Chairman's Corner: Independence Day 2011 - AFPS

International Education Program Promotes Relationships, Partnerships - AFPS

Senate Panel Passes Bill on Job Training for Military - WP

Army Bans Use of 'Toe Shoes,' Ciiting Image Concerns - WP

The Pentagon After Mr. Gates - NYT editorial

United States

Matthew Olsen Tapped as Next Head of NCTC - WP

Muslim Clerics Tied to Terrorism Again Seek Bail - AP

US Ends Most CIA Abuse Cases, to Probe Two Deaths - Reuters

Better Laws Needed to Counter Cyber Attacks - Reuters

Former IMF Chief Strauss-Kahn Released Without Bail - VOA

Strauss-Kahn Is Released as Case Teeters - NYT

Strauss-Kahn Accuser's Call Alarmed Prosecutors - NYT

Africa

Africa's Youth: A Threat or Opportunity? - Reuters

UN Faces Big Challenge as Sudan Readies for Split - Reuters

Sudan's Bashir Vows to Fight On in South Kordofan - VOA

Sudan: Bashir Says Army to Continue Campaign in Oil State - Reuters

Sudan Activist Held, at Risk of Torture - AP

Senegalese President Facing Unrest - VOA

Ivory Coast warrant for Ble Goude - BBC

US Expands Its Drone War Into Somalia - NYT

Somalia: US Took Bodies of Militants After Strike - AP

Americas

Violence Stemming Central America Migrant Flow to US - WP

Mexican Drug Smuggler Gets Life Term for Killing Agent - LAT

Mexico: Message to US Agents: 'We'll Chop Your Heads Off' - AP

Mexican Marines Kill 15 Cartel Suspects in Battle - AP

Drug Gang Shootout in Mexico Mining State Kills 15 - Reuters

Mexico's Ex-ruling Party Back to its Autocratic Ways - LAT

Venezuela Says Hugo Chavez Will Remain in Charge - LAT

Venezuelan Military Chief: Chavez Still in Charge of Country - VOA

Venezuela: Army Plays Down Chavez Concerns - BBC

Chavez Allies Urge Calm Despite Cancer - WP

Chavez Allies Insist He's Still Running Venezuela - Reuters

Chavez's Cancer Revelation Rattles Venezuela - AP

Uncertainty Over Chavez's Recovery Roils Venezuela - Reuters

Chávez Can Remain Outside Venezuela for Months - NYT

Cancer May Curb Chavez Micro-Management in Venezuela - Reuters

Witness in Colombian Paramilitary Court Case Killed - BBC

Cuba Would Hurt if Chávez is Replaced - MH

US Issuing Licenses for Increased Cuba Travel - AP

Cuba: Hugo Chavez's Secret - WP opinion

Asia Pacific

Months After Quake, 40,000 Japanese Still Homeless - S&S

By-the-Book Celebration for China's Communists - NYT

Chinese Leader Says Corruption Threatens Rule - VOA

China's Communists Mull the Party's Future - LAT

China: Hu Warns Communists on Corruption - BBC

China's Communists Mark 90th, Hail Party's Success - AP

N. Korea Assumes Rotating Presidency of Arms Body - AP

Thailand Braces for Election - VOA

Thailand Braces for Hotly Contested Election - CSM

Thailand Enters Calm Before Election Storm - Reuters

Ex-Thai PM, in Exile, Looms Large in Tense Vote - AP

Main Parties Contesting Thailand's Election - Reuters

Indonesian President Names Relative to Lead Army - AP

Europe

Russia Plans Arctic Army Brigades - BBC

Russia to Deploy 2 Army Brigades in Arctic - AP

Europe Gives $17 Billion to Greece to Avoid Default - NYT

As Nationalism Surges in Europe, Poland Begins Bloc Presidency - NYT

Poland Takes Over EU Presidency for Six Months - BBC

Georgia Imposes Restrictions on Public Protests - Reuters

Belarus Leader Says Won't Allow Veiled Protests - Reuters

Bosniaks and Croats, Divided in Class and at Play - NYT

Carl's post and his use of the primary documents also highlights another little understood aspect of General Abrams in that he appears to have had a very serious drinking problem that rose to the level of notice by the Commander in Chief, President Nixon. This is not to spread dirty rumors about a famed American General, but to explore historically a significant factor of the man that very well could have affected his generalship. It at least warrants asking the question. Unfortunately this personal aspect of Abrams along with the deep frustration that his Commander in Chief had over his performance has been buried by the hagiography surrounding the Abrams by the works of writer Lewis Sorley and the myth of a better war in Vietnam.

Here is the latest edition of my column at Foreign Policy:

Topics include:

1) Testing the 'Bremer Hypothesis' in post-Qaddafi Libya

2) RAND has good news for Obama - Afghanistan could be much worse

Testing the 'Bremer Hypothesis' in post-Qaddafi Libya

This week Andrew Mitchell, Britain's secretary of state for international development, briefed reporters on emerging contingency plans for a post-Muammar al-Qaddafi Libya. Mitchell is supervising a British-led international team that prepared a 50-page outline for how to stabilize Libya after the hoped-for collapse of Qaddafi's regime. Notably, the report recommends retaining much of the existing pro-Qaddafi army and police forces in Tripoli and elsewhere in western Libya. This recommendation is an attempt to learn from what many believe was a disastrous decision in 2003 to disband the Iraqi army after the fall of Saddam Hussein. But for Libya to actually benefit from this seemingly straight-forward lesson from Iraq will require many sketchy presumptions to come true.

In his memoir of his time as head of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer attempted to defend his decision to disband the Iraqi army, a verdict he rendered almost immediately upon first landing in Baghdad. According to Bremer, the army had already disbanded itself after the U.S. capture of Baghdad, when the vast majority of largely Shiite conscripts had deserted and gone home. Second, Bremer was highly concerned that the officer corps, which he presumed was stocked with pro-Saddam loyalists, would be a threat to the post-Saddam future he and the Iraqis he was working with hoped to build.

The Sunni establishment sacked by Bremer later constituted a major portion of the Iraqi insurgency. We will never know whether the Sunni officers may have become insurgents anyway had Bremer retained them instead. If a large-scale purge of the officer corps was inevitable, the least-risky decision may have been to do the purge up front rather than waiting for insurgent officers to infiltrate themselves inside the army and government. Needless to say, Bremer's decision remains highly controversial to this day.

The "Bremer Hypothesis" may get another test in Libya, as Mitchell seems determined to learn from the presumed error. Mitchell and his colleagues are assuming -- or at least hoping -- that army and police officials in Tripoli and elsewhere in pro-Qaddafi western Libya will readily agree to fall in with the post-Qaddafi political order, which we can assume will be dominated by the anti-Qaddafi National Transitional Council now in Benghazi. Mitchell's recommendation also seems to assume that the anti-Qaddafi leaders in Benghazi have come to the same conclusion about Bremer's decision as most policy analysts in the West and will agree to share military and police power with their former enemies in Tripoli. Whether that assumption will remain valid during a post-Qaddafi transition (or if it is even valid now) remains in question.

Of course, the biggest motivation behind placing a risky bet on Qaddafi's officers is the paramount necessity to avoid a Western-led military stabilization campaign in Libya. Once NATO "boots on the ground" for any purpose have been ruled out, there is no other choice but to rely on Libyan security forces, regardless of their recent loyalties. With the rebels yet to establish anything remotely resembling an organized security force, that leaves whatever remains of what Qaddafi build up over the past four decades as the only choice.

Add up the passions of a civil war, tribal frictions, hatred of an authoritarian regime and its enforcers, and inevitable post-conflict insecurity and there is a lot that can go wrong with Mitchell's plan. The United Nations is looking into sending a small force of unarmed monitors to observe a hoped-for post-Qaddafi ceasefire and perhaps later send in a presumably non-Western peacekeeping force. We can only hope that such a force will fare better than earlier hapless U.N. peacekeeping missions in Bosnia, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Mitchell's attention to the details of how to stabilize post-Qaddafi Libya is a welcome initiative and one that should have been thought through before NATO leaders committed themselves to the war. As is habitually the case, Mitchell is determined to refight the last battle, even if its lessons might not transfer well. Should NATO and Libya's rebels succeed in ousting Qaddafi, we can hope that Libya fares better than post-Saddam Iraq. But simply doing the opposite of what Bremer did is no guarantee of success.

RAND has good news for Obama - Afghanistan could be much worse

In a column last January, I discussed a report from the RAND Corp. analyzing the factors that determined success or failure in counterinsurgency campaigns. RAND's researchers studied 30 counterinsurgency operations that began and ended between 1978 and 2008. These cases occurred on six continents across a variety of cultures and terrain. RAND uncovered "good" and "bad" counterinsurgency practices that were excellent predictors of success or failure against insurgent movements. My January column concluded with a grim prognosis for Afghanistan, based on RAND's findings.

Earlier this year, RAND itself examined the current outlook for Afghanistan using the model it developed and released its conclusions this week. According to this evaluation, the current campaign in Afghanistan ekes out a barely positive score, a result below the lowest-scoring counterinsurgent "win" in the 30 cases it studied.

For its analysis, RAND recruited a variety of experts and Afghanistan veterans to assess the current campaign. The researchers asked the experts to answer yes or no to 51 questions that, when added together, would reveal whether the specific "good" and "bad" counterinsurgency practices were present or absent in Afghanistan. The experts were questioned individually by e-mail and were unknown to each other. Those whose answers were in the minority were asked to explain their reasoning, which was then shared with the others. After the dissents were shared, the experts were asked to answer the questions again. This process was repeated one more time, with the final answers compiled as the expert assessment of the campaign.

The experts agreed that the Afghan campaign has failed to establish some critical conditions which the prior research found important for counterinsurgency success. Although the experts believed that the coalition scored well on developing good intelligence, avoiding excessive use of force, and attempting to establish good relations with the population, these positive attributes of coalition behavior were offset by failings in the Afghan government, over which coalition officials seem to have little control. The Afghan government received low marks for achieving legitimacy, demonstrating competency, and providing services better than the insurgent's "shadow government." It also doesn't help that the coalition forces are increasingly viewed as occupiers and that the coalition's interests seem to diverge from those of the Afghan government.

Most critical of all for RAND was the inability of the coalition and the Afghan government to disrupt the Taliban's access to tangible support. The experts believe the campaign has had little effect on the Taliban's ability to recruit fighters and financing, develop its own intelligence, or replenish its material resources. In RAND's study of 30 insurgencies since 1978, success or failure at cutting off this tangible support to the insurgents was the single best predictor of the campaign's overall success.

As I discussed last week, President Obama's decision to reduce the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan will reduce the coalition's dependence on supply lines running through Pakistan. This in turn will increase U.S. leverage over Pakistan and could remove a barrier to taking effective measures against Taliban sanctuaries inside Pakistan.

Will Obama actually shift fire eventually onto the Pakistan sanctuaries? There is no question that the U.S. relationship with Islamabad has sunk and with it, the patience of U.S. officials (Pakistan just kicked out the CIA drone operation it previous hosted). According to RAND, there is little prospect for permanent progress against the Taliban without pressure on its sanctuaries, including those inside Pakistan. Whether Obama wants to fight that war remains to be seen.

Via STAND-TO!

What is it?

The Army antiterrorism (AT) theme for the fourth quarter, fiscal year 2011 (4Q/FY11), -Antiterrorism Doctrine -- focuses on the understanding and integration of the AT doctrine contained in FM 3-37.2 ("Antiterrorism") released in February 2011.

Why is it important to the Army?

Describing what constitutes AT, how it applies in a given situation, what actions are necessary to prevent a terrorist attack, and how to determine if a unit, installation, or facility has the appropriate protection resources are complex and important issues. Determining the approach for these fundamental elements is certainly worth contemplating. Army AT policy (AR 525-13) provides the baseline fundamentals of what must be done. However, policy does not describe the countless possibilities driven by the threat, security environment, available resources, and numerous other variables. Moreover, the Army guides, but does not dictate, those actions through doctrine. Until recently there was no doctrinal "guide" for AT to help units develop their AT plans and programs. In February 2011, the Army unveiled its first ever AT doctrine, FM 3-37.2, "Antiterrorism."

What is the Army doing?

To meet a growing and evolving terrorist threat, the Army combined the most important elements of AT policy with the doctrinal wisdom and practical application from operational forces, installations, and stand-alone facilities. By leveraging extensive AT expertise from across the force, sound doctrinal principles, processes, and tools emerged. FM 3-37.2 establishes AT principles (assess, detect, warn, defend, and recover), integrates AT within the combating terrorism framework and protection warfighting function, and builds on the Army's effective operations and intelligence processes.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?

An Army-wide AT Awareness Month is planned for August 2011. The timing of this year's observance is especially important given the approaching 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks against the homeland.

During the month of August, units, installations, and facilities should focus efforts to heighten awareness and vigilance across the Army community to prevent and protect against acts of terrorism. The four themes, all related to doctrinal precepts, for the Army's AT awareness month included:

• Recognizing and reporting suspicious activity or high-risk behavior

• Application of Army AT principles

• Integrating AT into the operations process

• Procedures for law enforcement and community response to an active shooter

Resources:

Log-in required:

Army Antiterrorism Enterprise Portal (ATEP) and iWATCH Army

Related STAND-TO! editions:

Q3: Antiterrorism Theme- Understanding the Threat

Q2: Antiterrorism Theme - Antiterrorism Awareness in Contracting

Q1: Antiterrorism Theme- Personal Protection

Afghanistan

NATO Airstrike Kills Militant Leader Linked to Kabul Hotel Attack - VOA

Airstrike Kills Insurgent Suspected in Planning Kabul Attack - NYT

NATO 'Kills Senior Haqqani Militant - BBC

NATO Blames Haqqani for Attack on Afghan Hotel - AP

Afghan Bus Hit by Roadside Bomb in Nimroz Province - BBC

Taliban: French Hostages Traded for Insurgents - AP

Taliban Freed French Hostages 'for Prisoners and Money' - BBC

2 Ex-Officials Held in Kabul Bank Collapse - NYT

Afghan Official: 2 Kabul Bank Officials Arrested - AP

Kabul Bank Chiefs Arrested in Fraud Probe - BBC

Elaborate Ruse Behind Bank Fraud - WP

ISAF Operations Roundup - AFPS

Against the Clock in Afghanistan - WP opinion

Pakistan

Pakistan Calls for US to Leave Base Used for Drones - VOA

US Rejects Demands to Vacate Pakistan Drone Base - Reuters

How to Get Pakistan to Break with Islamic Militants - WP opinion

Syria

Coalition of Factions From the Streets Fuels a New Opposition - NYT

Syrian Forces Kill 12 in Border Area; Aleppo Sees First Protests - VOA

Protests in Aleppo as Troops Comb Border - BBC

Syria Forces Spread Through Border Area; 19 Killed - AP

Syrian Student Protesters Rounded Up, Beaten - WP

Libya

Western Funds Said to Have Managed Libyan Money Poorly - NYT

Tripoli Refugees Stream Into Libya's Mountains - NYT

Rebels in Libya's West Gain Ground - LAT

Libya Opposition Says Need More Weapons - AP

French Arms to Libya Rebels Expose Tensions Over War - Reuters

Russia Decries French Arms Drop to Libya Rebels - BBC

Britain Sends Supplies to Libyan Rebels - NYT

Failing to Move Russia, EU and US Slam Syria at UN - Reuters

Gadhafi's Daughter Says Govt in Talks With Rebels - AP

The Libya Campaign - NYT editorial

Iraq

US Monthly Combat Deaths at 3-Year High - NYT

US: Iran Behind Rising Troop Deaths in Iraq - WP

Shiite Militias Step Up Attacks on US Troops - AP

Rocket Attack Kills 3 American Soldiers in Iraq - AP

Three US Soldiers Killed in Southern Iraq - BBC

Iraq to Help Iranians Who Fled From Exiles' Camp - AP

UN Welcomes Iraqi Takeover of Development Fund - AP

Israel / Palestinians

Irish Ship Drops Out of Gaza Flotilla; Organizers Vow to Sail - VOA

Gaza Aid Flotilla: Irish Crew Accuse Israel of Sabotage - BBC

Israel's Gaza Sea Blockade is Act of Self-defense - LAT opinion

Lebanon

UN Lebanon Tribunal Indicts 4 in Hariri Assassination - VOA

Hariri Murder: UN Tribunal Issues Arrest Warrants - BBC

Tribunal Names 4 in '05 Killing of Lebanese Leader - NYT

Lebanon Receives Hariri Killing Indictments - Reuters

Egypt

Clinton: US in Contact with Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood - BBC

US to Expand Contacts with Muslim Brotherhood - WP

US Overtures to Egypt Islamists Show Pragmatism - Reuters

Obama and the Muslim Brothers - WT editorial

Middle East / North Africa

Clinton Outlines Road Ahead for Arab Democracy - AP

Yemen: Doubts Raised on Saleh's Return, Fighting in South - Reuters

Seeking to Avoid Uprising, Kuwait Approves Record Spending - NYT

Bahrain Riot Police Fire Tear Gas at Protesters - AP

Family of US Hikers Held in Iran Seek UN Backing - AP

Morocco to Vote on King Mohammed's Reforms - BBC

Moroccans Get Set to Vote on New Constitution - AP

Turnout Key as Moroccans Vote for King's Reforms - Reuters

Tunisians Take Pride in 'Arab Spring' Slogans, Humour - Reuters

Latest Developments in Arab World's Unrest - AP

Terrorism

Spain: al-Qaida Possibly Buying Libyan War Weapons - AP

US Department of Defense

Gates Ends Historic Term as Defense Secretary - AFPS

Gates Honored on Final Day as Defense Chief - VOA

Obama bids Gates farewell with the Medal of Freedom - S&S

Gates Departs Pentagon with Medal of Freedom - WP

Obama Praises Gates on Pentagon Chief's Last Day - WT

Obama Awards Gates Presidential Medal of Freedom - AFPS

Mullen Lauds Gates' 'Distinguished Legacy' at Farewell - AFPS

Pentagon Costs Rising Fast, CBO Warns - WP

Officials Continue Arlington Cemetery Investigation - AFPS

Boeing Overcharged Army to the Tune of $12.6 Million - S&S

Joint Forces Command Transfers More Functions - AFPS

Military Doctors Get Guidelines for Treating 4-legged Warriors - USAT

DOD Announces Iraq, Afghanistan Campaign Stars - AFPS

DARPA Seeks to Employ Biology in Manufacturing - AFPS

United States

Petraeus Unanimously Confirmed as CIA Director - S&S

US Will Widen 2 CIA Inquiries Into Jail Deaths - NYT

US Looking Into 2 Detainee Deaths - WP

Justice Ends 2nd Review of CIA Questioners - WT

Holder Opens CIA Detainee Death Inquiry - BBC

Strauss-Kahn Case Seen as in Jeopardy - NYT

Questions About Accuser Shake Up Strauss-Kahn Case - WP

Case Against Strauss-Kahn May be Crumbling - LAT

Case Against Strauss-Kahn Near Collapse - Reuters

Mob Figure May Unearth Corruption of Lawmen - NYT

Africa

AU Summit Opens, Libya Crisis Expected to Dominate Talks - VOA

Area Girds for Revolt as Sudan Approaches Split - NYT

UN Criticizes China's Failure to Arrest Sudan's Bashir - VOA

Rival Sudan Forces to Quit Border Ahead of Independence - BBC

Sudan Grants UN Limited Access to Volatile Border Area - VOA

Nigerian Capital Under Limited Curfew Following Maiduguri Bombings - VOA

UN: Ivory Coast Has Urgent Need to Restore Order - Reuters

Americas

Mexico Troops Detain Hit Man Linked to Mass Graves - AP

Mexico Drug War: Tamaulipas Murder Suspect 'Confesses' - BBC

Venezuela's Chavez Says He Had Cancer - WP

Venezuela: Chávez Says Cancerous Tumor Removed - NYT

Health of Chavez Stirs Talk of Successor - WT

Chavez Cancer Upends Venezuelan Politics - Reuters

Venezuela Launches Probe of TV Channel's Coverage - AP

Colombian President Santos Condemns Deadly FARC Attack - BBC

Bolivia Renounces 1961 UN Narcotics Convention - AP

Asia Pacific

China's Communist Party Tries to Reclaim Glory - WP

China Feeling Like No. 1 with a Bullet Train - LAT

Ex-President of Taiwan Is Charged With Graft - NYT

Okinawans Protest US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement - S&S

Rural Thais Find an Unaccustomed Power - NYT

Thaksin Looms Large as Thai Parties Make Final Campaign - Reuters

Candidates Hold Final Rallies Ahead of Thai Polls - AP

Teaching Jihad in Indonesian Prisons - AP

Philippines Slashes, Smushes Haul of Pirated Goods - AP

Europe

Europe Spending Cuts Prompt Street Protests - VOA

Greek Parliament Approves Details of Austerity Vote - VOA

Greek Parliament Approves Implementation of Austerity Plan - NYT

Italy Approves an Austerity Package - NYT

Britain Faces Massive Strike over Pension Changes - WP

Draft Ends in Germany, Questions of Identity Endure - NYT

Croatia, Serbia Get Closer to EU Membership - VOA

South Asia

Russia to Supply Nuclear Submarine to India - Reuters

Afghanistan

Benefit of 'Economy of Force' Operations Remains Unclear - S&S

Obama Weighed Military and Political Risk for Afghan Plan - Reuters

Officials to Expand Afghan Militia Program - USAT

McRaven Defends Night Raids in Afghan War - S&S

Kabul Hotel Attack Raises Doubts on Afghan Forces - NYT

Kabul Shaken after Deadly Hotel Attack - WP

Afghan Taliban Sends Message with Hotel Attack - LAT

Afghan Officials: Hotel Attack Will Not Affect Security Transition - VOA

Afghan Attack Left Mass of Bodies at Luxury Hotel - AP

2 Journalists Freed by Taliban Return to France - NYT

French Journalists Freed in Afghanistan after 18 Months - BBC

Two Ex-Kabul Bank Officials Arrested - NYT

Fallen Marine Honored With Intelligence Medal for Valor - AFPS

Taliban Talks Bombing - WT editorial

Pakistan

Pakistan Ends US Use of Base for Drone Attacks - Reuters

Six Karachi Rangers Charged with Murder - BBC

Syria

Syria Pulls Its Armed Forces From Some Contested Cities - NYT

US Slaps Syria, Iran for Killing Protesters - WT

Activists Say Syrian Troops Kill 4 in Northern Villages - VOA

Syria Tank Assault Kills 11 Near Turkey Border - Reuters

A Dictator's New Friend - WP editorial

Libya

Obama Defends US Involvement in Libyan Conflict - VOA

Obama Dismisses 'Fuss' about Libya Conflict - WT

France Provides Weapons, Food to Libyan Rebels - VOA

France Says It Gave Arms to the Rebels in Libya - NYT

French Sent Arms to Libyan Rebels - WP

AU Condemns French Libya Arms Drop - BBC

UK Sends Body Armor, Police Uniforms to Libya - AP

Britain Won't Help Arm Libya Rebels - WT

Libya Dismisses Claim of Rebel Push from Mountains - AP

How to Depose Kadafi - LAT editorial

Yemen

Strategic Site Is Captured by Militants in Yemen - NYT

Battle Near Zinjibar 'Kills at Least 21' - BBC

Yemen President Orders Talks on Deal to End Crisis - AP

Yemen VP Says Doesn't Know When Saleh Returns - Reuters

Israel / Palestinians

Gaza Flotilla Organizers: 2nd Ship Sabotaged - AP

Iraq

3 US Troops Killed in Iraq, Adding to Deadly Month - WP

Rocket Attack Kills 3 American Soldiers in Iraq - AP

Iran

Iran Facing New US Sanctions - WP

US Slaps Syria, Iran for Killing Protesters - WT

Egypt

Egypt Unprepared for Sept. Elections - WP

Clashes Ease in Egypt, but Underline Nation's Fragile Condition - NYT

Egyptian Protesters Demand Brutality Trials - LAT

Review Ordered in Death That Sparked Egypt Revolt - AP

US to Resume Formal Muslim Brotherhood Contacts - Reuters

Waiting Game in Tunisia and Egypt - WP opinion

Middle East / North Africa

Tension over Saudi Worker Curbs - BBC

Saudi Religious Police Detained 5 Women for Driving - NYT

Waiting Game in Tunisia and Egypt - WP opinion

Terrorism

CT Strategy Focused on al-Qaeda's Threat to Homeland - WP

White House Unveils Retooled Plan to Hunt al-Qaida - AP

New Counterterror Strategy Reset on 'Adherents' - WT

Obama Adviser Outlines Plans to Defeat Al Qaeda - NYT

US Drone Targets Two Leaders of Somali AQ Group - WP

Jihadist Web Forum Knocked Off Internet - AP

US Department of Defense

Obama Hints at Deeper Cuts to Defense Spending - S&S

McRaven: Special Operations Forces Under Stress - AP

Mullen: Public, Private Efforts Must Help Failed States - AFPS

Cartwright Cites 'Stark Realities' at Conference - AFPS

Comptroller Explains DOD Budget Challenges - AFPS

Ongoing Investigation at Arlington National Cemetery - CNN

Obama, Pentagon Plan Big Send-off for Gates - S&S

United States

Report: Iraq, Afghanistan Wars Cost US Nearly $4 Trillion - VOA

Obama Urges Lawmakers to Seize Moment, Tackle Debt - VOA

Clinton Urges World Democracies to Stand Together - AP

Africa

China Pledges Lasting Friendship with Sudan - VOA

Sudanese Leader Is Welcomed in Visit to China - NYT

Sudan President Bashir Scrambles to Save Regime - LAT

Rival Sudan Forces to Quit Border - BBC

Two Sudans to Create a Buffer Zone - Reuters

South Sudan President Steers Nation to Independence - Reuters

Yet Again in Sudan - NYT opinion

Nigeria Imposes Curfew on Abuja - BBC

Deadly Gunfight in DR Congo Mining Capital - BBC

US Drone Targets Two Leaders of Somali AQ Group - WP

Americas

Mexican Govt: No Evidence Migrants Were Kidnapped - AP

Venezuela Suspends Summit over Hugo Chavez's Illness - BBC

Colombia Condemns Rebel Attack - BBC

Study Suggests UN Force Brought Cholera to Haiti - AP

Asia Pacific

China Supports Global Pariahs, Gets Resources and Criticism in Return - VOA

Amnesty Int'l: China Crackdown on Lawyers Expands - AP

China's 'Red Tourism' Puts the Party Back Into Communism - Reuters

Filipino Leader to Visit China Amid Spratlys Rift - AP

Taiwan Unveils Upgraded Fighter Jet - AP

Ex-Taiwan President Lee Indicted on Graft Charge - AP

US, South Korean Alliance 'Never Stronger,' Sharp Says - AFPS

N. Korea: Kim Cancelled Russia Trip on Security Worry - Reuters

Europe

Britain Faces Mass Strikes as Airports Warn Travelers - VOA

UK Public Workers Strike Over Pensions - BBC

Rough Road Ahead for Greece Despite Austerity Measures - VOA

Greece Passes Austerity Package - LAT

Russian Lawmakers Delay Controversial Rights Bill - AP

Six Moldovan 'Uranium Smugglers' Arrested - BBC

South Asia

Indian PM Manmohan Singh Denies 'Lame Duck' Charge - BBC

India: Gujarat Riots Records 'Destroyed' - BBC

White House Unveils Retooled Plan to Hunt al-Qaida by Kimberly Dozier, Associated Press. BLUF: "The United States will push ahead with more targeted drone strikes and special operations raids and fewer costly land battles like Iraq and Afghanistan in the continuing war against al-Qaida, according to a new national counterterrorism strategy unveiled Wednesday."