OFF THE WIRE :

• Israelis and Palestinians to Resume Talks, Officials Say
   [New York Times, 20 Aug 10]
• Russian Base in Armenia to Stay Through 2044
   [AP, 20 Aug 10]
• Mideast Quartet Sees Treaty Deal Within A Year
   [Reuters, 20 Aug 10]
• Pakistan to Clamp Down on Islamist Militant Charities
   [Reuters, 20 Aug 10]
• U.S. On Track to End Iraq Combat Mission
   [Reuters, 19 Aug 10]
• US Forces Spokesman: Iraqi Security Up to the Task
   [AP, 19 Aug 10]
• Taiwan renews plea for US to sell fighter jets
   [AFP, 19 Aug 10]
• Five Injured In Bombing on South Yemen Police
   [Reuters, 19 Aug 10]
• Insurgents, police clash amid Pakistan flooding
   [AP, 18 Aug 10]
• Iran's Supreme Leader: No Negotiations With US
   [VOA, 18 Aug 10]
• Rebels Kill 3 in U.N. Force in Congo
   [New York Times, 18 Aug 10]
• US nabs al-Qada-linked militants in Afghanistan
   [AP, 13 Aug 10]
• Pakistan vows to keep fighting militants alongside floods
   [MSNBC, 13 Aug 10]
• Iran nuclear plant launch beckons
   [BBC, 13 Aug 10]
• US wants Iraq to pay bill for war victims
   [AP, 12 Aug 10]
• Kuwait: Plan to Buy U.S. Missiles
   [Reuters, 11 Aug 10]
• Karroubi: Iran Sanctions Strengthening Government
   [Reuters, 11 Aug 10]
• U.S. charges 14 with giving support to Somali insurgent group
   [Washington Post, 06 Aug 10]

AFGHANISTAN & PAKISTAN :

New York Times, 18 Aug 10, by Mark Landler
U.S. Strategy in Pakistan Is Upended by Floods
'The floods in Pakistan have upended the Obama administration’s carefully honed strategy there, confronting the United States with a vast humanitarian crisis and militant groups determined to exploit the misery, in a country that was already one of its thorniest problems.'

New York Times, 19 Aug 10, by Ismail Khan
Flood Brings Chaos Back to Pakistan’s Swat Valley
'Floods shattered hopes where residents had just began rebuilding after troops drove the Taliban into hiding.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug 10, by Issam Ahmed
Will slow response to Pakistan flood threaten democracy?
'The absence of politicians from the scene of the Pakistan flood -- the country's worst in 80 years -- is raising concerns about the future of democracy in Pakistan.'

New York Times/Reuters, 12 Aug 10
U.S. Braces For Kandahar Fight, Anti-Corruption Battle
'Targeted strikes by U.S. special forces against insurgents around Kandahar are yielding results, but war planners expect tough fighting ahead and more casualties, a U.S. military official said Wednesday.'

Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug 10, by Ben Arnoldy
Afghanistan war: UN report blames insurgents for rise in civilian deaths
'According to a new UN report, the Taliban and other insurgents are largely responsible for the recent surge in civilian deaths, not coalition forces. Gen. David Petraeus has ordered a related PR offensive.'

New York Times, 12 Aug 10, by Alissa J. Rubin
Unrest Is Undermining Hopes for Afghan Vote
'Concern is growing about President Hamid Karzai’s ability to deliver a credible election in September, a crucial sign of security and a legitimate government.'

[ recent stories from Afghanistan and Pakistan ]

IRAQ :

Christian Science Monitor, 19 Aug 10, by Howard LaFranchi
Troops withdraw, but US work in Iraq war unfinished and fragile
'The last US combat troops leave Iraq Thursday, shifting the American role in the Iraq war from the Pentagon to the State Department, which faces a potentially unprecedented task.'

Financial Times, 19 Aug 10, by Andrew England
Final US combat brigade leaves Iraq
'The US’s military operation in the country is being rebranded from “Operation Iraqi Freedom” to “Operation New Dawn” with a far greater focus on training and advising the Iraqi security forces. US civilians will also take a more prominent role as the military draws down.'

New York Times, 18 Aug 10, by Michael R. Gordon
Civilians to Take U.S. Lead After Military Leaves Iraq
'As the United States military prepares to leave Iraq by the end of 2011, the Obama administration is planning a remarkable civilian effort, buttressed by a small army of contractors, to fill the void.'

New York Times/Reuters, 19 Aug 10
Analysis - Will Obama Keep US Troops In Iraq Beyond 2011?
'Iraq's military chief, the former U.S. general who oversaw the training of Iraq's security forces, and U.S. officials who negotiated the current U.S.-Iraqi military pact are among those who say a U.S. military presence will be needed beyond 2011.'

Washington Post, 11 Aug 10, by Karen DeYoung and Ernesto Londoño
State Dept. faces skyrocketing costs as it prepares to expand role in Iraq
'As the last U.S. combat troops prepare to leave Iraq this month, the State Department is struggling to implement an expanded mission that it has belatedly realized it might not be able to afford.'

The Telegraph, 11 Aug 10, by Richard Spencer and Ben Leach
US 'on target' to withdraw troops from Iraq despite military misgivings
'The US has insisted it is on target to end combat operations in Iraq despite warnings from the country's top army officer that native troops will not be ready to take control for another decade.'

[ recent stories from Iraq ]

THE MIDDLE EAST, TURKEY & NORTH AFRICA :

New York Times, 19 Aug 10, by
U.S. Assures Israel That Iran Threat Is Not Imminent
'The Obama administration, citing evidence of continued troubles inside Iran’s nuclear program, has persuaded Israel that it would take roughly a year — and perhaps longer — for Iran to complete what one senior official called a “dash” for a nuclear weapon, according to American officials.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug 10, by Christa Case Bryant and Joshua Mitnick
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks look less likely as settlers fret over freeze
'As the US steps up pressure for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is insisting on a extension of an Israeli settlement freeze set to expire next month. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that isn't likely, citing public opposition.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug 10, by Dan Murphy
Is Israel really likely to attack Iran next summer?
'That's the argument in an Atlantic Monthly cover story out this week. Others say Israel is striking a tough pose on Iran to push the Obama administration toward taking action on its own.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug 10, by Dan Murphy
Repercussions of an Israeli attack on Iran
'An Atlantic Monthly article argues there's a high chance of an Israeli attack on Iran next summer. What might happen next if they did?'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug 10, by Nicholas Blanford
If US cuts Lebanon Army aid, would Hezbollah's sponsor Iran step in?
'Iran, a key supporter of Hezbollah, offered to underwrite the Lebanese Army after a top US congressman said Monday he had blocked $100 million in military aid. But some doubt it would substantially fill the void.'

Washington Post, 12 Aug 10, by Joel Greenberg
Resistance on Gaza flotilla more than expected, Israeli military chief says
'Israel's military chief testifies that although troops had been trained for a violent confrontation, they lacked intelligence about the activists.'

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug 10, by Omar Kasrawi and Sommer Saadi
Why Israeli-Palestinian conflicts over land turn epic
'The importance of place to Jewish and Muslim identity intensifies Israeli-Palestinian conflicts over land, as illustrated by the disputed construction of a museum affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center on Jerusalem's Mamilla cemetery.'

[ recent stories from the Middle East ]

COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS :

Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug 10, by editorial board
US and UN aid for Pakistan floods: It helps fight Taliban, effects of global warming
'The lives of 14 million Pakistanis are disrupted by massive flooding. The US must prepare for more security crises triggered by erratic weather, perhaps caused by global warming.'

Christian Science Monitor, 18 Aug 10, by Larry P. Goodson
Why US and Pakistan must draw closer
'Nuclear-armed Pakistan is too critical for Washington to abandon again as it moves to withdraw from Afghanistan. The tragic flooding in Pakistan gives the United States a rare opportunity to demonstrate goodwill and break the cynical cycle of its relationship with Islamabad.'

Atlantic Monthly, Sep 10, by Jeffrey Goldberg
The Point of No Return
'In the gap between Washington’s and Jerusalem’s views of Iran lies the question: who, if anyone, will stop Iran before it goes nuclear, and how?'

Washington Post, 12 Aug 10, by George F. Will
Netanyahu, the anti-Obama
'No two leaders of democracies are less alike -- in life experiences, temperaments and political philosophies -- than Netanyahu, the former commando and fierce nationalist, and Barack Obama, the former professor and post-nationalist.'

New York Times 'At War', 11 Aug 10, by Henry Brewster
The Way Forward in Iraq
'... our limited role can hardly justify a costly forward-deployed military and the danger to life that comes along with it.'

New York Times 'At War', 20 Aug 10, by Anthony Shadid and Stephen Farrell
Iraq's Unstable Future
[video] As American forces withdraw, an assessment Iraq's unstable political establishment.

Christian Science Monitor, 26 Jul 10, by Nathan Gardels
A reality check on Obama's bid for zero nukes
'Since the nuclear genie can’t be put back in the bottle, striving for a system of stability – rather than dreaming of zero nukes – is the best course.'

New Yorker, 16 Aug 10, by Jon Lee Anderson
After the Crackdown
'Talking to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad—and the opposition—about Iran today'

New Yorker, 09 Aug 10, by Amy Davidson
Leaks
'Some American observers similarly implied that the lack of broad revelations rendered the contents of the files insignificant.'

Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug 10, by John Yemma
For some veterans, wars never end
'Troops now coming home from Iraq -- and those scheduled to return from Afghanistan next year -- often carry the war with them.'

[ recent commentary and analysis ]

IRAN :

Christian Science Monitor, 19 Aug 10, by Mark Clayton
Why Iran's nuclear reactor may not be an immediate threat
'Iran's Bushehr nuclear reactor is set to be loaded with fuel Saturday. Some hawks say bomb it now, but leading nuclear experts advocate a wait-and-see approach.'

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug 10, by Howard LaFranchi
Dissidents say Iran nuclear sanctions are helping Ahmadinejad
'The Obama administration says Iran nuclear sanctions are beginning to have an effect. But two prominent dissidents say the sanctions are playing into the hands of the Ahmadinejad regime.'

[ recent stories from Iran ]

ASIA & THE PACIFIC :

Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug 10, by Donald Kirk
US-Vietnam ties strengthen with military exercises, to China's chagrin
'This week, the USS John McCain is engaged in military exercises in the South China Sea - setting a new threshold in US-Vietnam ties.'

Washington Post, 09 Aug 10, by John Pomfret
Concerned about China's rise, Southeast Asian nations build up militaries
'The nations of Southeast Asia are building up their militaries, buying submarines and jet fighters at a record pace and edging closer strategically to the United States as a hedge against China's rise and its claims to all of the South China Sea.'

Washington Post, 09 Aug 10, by Chico Harlan
Amid tensions with S. Korea, N. Korea fires artillery into the sea
'North Korea on Monday fired roughly 110 rounds of artillery into the sea off its west coast -- the latest fist-shaking response by leaders in Pyongyang to South Korea's massive military exercises.'

[ recent stories from Asia and the Pacific ]

BRITAIN, EUROPE, RUSSIA and CENTRAL ASIA :

New York Times, 11 Aug 10, by Michael Schwirtz
Russia Moves Missiles Into Breakaway Region
'Russia announced Wednesday that it had deployed an advanced surface-to-air missile system in the breakaway Georgian enclave of Abkhazia, a sign that Russian forces were becoming further entrenched in a disputed region at the focal point of Russia’s brief war with Georgia two years ago.'

[ recent stories from Britain, Europe,
Russia and Central Asia ]

THE AMERICAS :

Washington Post, 12 Aug 10, by Michael Shifter
A new look for Colombia, U.S. relations
'U.S. relations with Colombia -- Washington's major Latin American ally over the past decade -- may be on the verge of some important changes ...'

[ recent stories from the Americas ]

US MILITARY, THE PENTAGON, &
INTELLIGENCE :

New York Times, 19 Aug 10, by Steven Lee Myers
In Iraq War, Soldiers Say They Had a Job to Do
'Even with the end of combat operations, Iraq remains a job that inspires emotion only among those who do it.'

DefenseNews, 09 Aug 10, by Andrew Tilghman
Pentagon to Eliminate U.S. Joint Forces Command
'The four-star command ... will pass along its primary mission - managing forces and coordinating deployments - to the office of the Joint Staff, Gates said at a Pentagon news briefing.'

New York Times, 11 Aug 10, by Eric Schmitt, Helene Cooper and David E. Sanger
U.S. Military Seeks Slower Pace to Wrap Up Afghan Role
'American military officials are building a case to minimize the planned withdrawal of some troops from Afghanistan starting next summer, in an effort to counter growing pressure on President Obama from inside his own party to begin winding the war down quickly.'

Washington Post, 12 Aug 10, by Peter Finn
U.S. lacks policy on housing detainees convicted in military commissions
'The Defense Department has no written policy on how detainees convicted in military commissions should be housed after they are sentenced, despite a 2008 Pentagon directive to create a plan for such prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, a military judge said.'

PBS NewsHour, 11 Aug 10, with Spencer Michels
Hayden: Hackers Force Internet Users to Learn Self-Defense
'... a conversation with former CIA and National Security Agency Director Michael Hayden who says the openness of the Internet's design puts hackers at an advantage over people who want to defend their data.'

New York Times, 18 Aug 10, by Thom Shanker
WikiLeaks and Pentagon Disagree About Talks
'The Pentagon on Wednesday rebutted statements by the WikiLeaks organization that the Defense Department had expressed a willingness to discuss reviewing a trove of classified documents before public release.'

[ recent stories about the US military,
the Pentagon and intelligence ]

WAR & THE MEDIA :

New York Times, 11 Aug 10, by Jeremy W. Peters
Guantánamo Offers a Look, but Little Else
'The military takes journalists on tours of Guantánamo Bay to counter “misrepresentations” about treatment of detainees there, but much remains off limits.'

[ recent stories on war and the media ]

"Hunt for the Somali Pirates" airs soon on the National Geographic Channel.
When Somali pirates hijack the Maersk Alabama -- and international headlines -- Navy SEALs launch a sneak attack to rescue the ship's American captain. Pirate Hunters recounts the harrowing five days from hijack to final fatal shots, and reveals sophisticated Navy SEAL training methods that prepare the world's most elite reconnaissance teams for daring missions with no second chances.