US Naval Institute Daily - USNI
Real Clear World - RCP
Afghanistan
Karzai: Death Toll in Attacks on Afghan Shi'ites Rises to 80 - VOA
Afghan Leader Says Toll from Attacks on Shiites Now at 80 - AP
US Commander Defends Unpopular Night Raids - WP
US Commander Defends Night Raids in Afghanistan - AP
Karzai Says Foreigners Are Responsible for Corruption - NYT
Iran Complains to Afghanistan about US Drone - NYT
The Afghan Girl who Became Symbol of Kabul Attack - TT
Afghan Folk Tales Take New Role in Classroom - WP
Pakistan
US Military Vacates Pakistani Air Base - VOA
CIA Leaves Base in Pakistan Used for Drone Strikes - NYT
Pakistani Government Denies Talks with Taliban - Reuters
Pakistani Taliban Spokesman Denies Peace Talks - AP
Pakistan to Keep NATO Convoy Ban - BBC
Pakistan's Zardari to Rest in Dubai for 2 More Weeks - Reuters
Iraq
Iraqi Prime Minister to Meet US President at White House - VOA
Maliki Heads to US for ‘Post-War’ Consultations - WP
Iraq PM Maliki Visits Washington - BBC
Detainee in Iraq Poses a Dilemma as US Exit Nears - NYT
Once Bustling US Base in Basra Now a Ghost Town - S&S
US Victorious in Iraq Despite Obama - WT opinion
A New Mirage in the Iraqi Desert - WP opinion
After Iraq: What Will History Say? - CSM opinion
Iran
Iran Complains to Afghanistan About US Drone - NYT
Iran to US: We Won't Return the 'Beast' Drone - CSM
Iran Says It Will Not Return US Drone - AP
Obama’s Worrying Iran policy - WP opinion
Iran Won’t Give Up the Bomb - WP opinion
Syria
Defectors Fight Syrian Troops As Opposition Begins General Strike - VOA
'18 Killed' in Fresh Syria Unrest - BBC
23 Reported Killed in Syria Clashes - WP
General Strike Launched in Syria Amid Fierce Clashes - LAT
Major Battle in Syria; Shops Shut by Strike - Reuters
Syrian Troops Clash With Army Defectors - AP
France Suspects Syria in Lebanon Bombing - AP
France Points Finger at Syria for Lebanon Attack - Reuters
Israel: End of Assad Would Be 'Blessing' - AP
'Revolutionary Puppet Series' Takes Swipe at Assad - LAT
Egypt
Islamist Parties' Electoral Success has Copts Worried - LAT
Military Rulers to Decide Fate of Guantanamo Returnee - McClatchy
New Israeli Ambassador to Egypt Slated to Arrive - AP
Democracy in the Brotherhood’s Birthplace - NYT opinion
Obama Lags on Egypt - WP opinion
Middle East / North Africa
Islamists Gain Backers Seeking Help, Not Oppression - WT
Arab Uprisings Reshape Map of US Influence - AP
Hamas in Gaza Says It's Learning From Arab Spring - AP
Israel Blames Palestinians for Spurning Peace Talks - Reuters
Israel Acts to Curb Illegal Immigration from Africa - NYT
Israel OKs Funding to Block African Migrants - AP
Arab League Condemns Gingrich's Palestinian Remark - AP
Grasping at Peace, War Zone of a City Tests Yemen - NYT
Libyan Militia, Army Clash Near Tripoli's Airport - AP
US Department of Defense
Program to Battle IEDs Faces Cuts - WP
One-of-a-Kind Unit Trains for Hazardous Situations - S&S
A Pentagon the Country Can Afford - NYT editorial
An Injustice for Women in Uniform - NYT editorial
United States
Congress Edges Toward Deal to Avoid Shutdown - WP
Predator Drone Spy Planes Used in Civilian Arrests - S&S
Using Military Discipline to Help Veterans in Prison - NYT
Protecting Illegal Immigrants, State by State - LAT
Will Congress Ban Corruption in Its Midst? - NYT editorial
Are All Bloggers Journalists? - NYT opinion
Africa
Congo Election: Two Men Declare Themselves President - CSM
Observers Question Integrity of DRC Vote - VOA
DR Congo Poll 'Lacks Credibility' - BBC
Congo Opposition Unifies Behind No. 2 Finisher as ‘Winner’ - WT
Congo Opposition Plans Protest Over Election Results - Reuters
Ivory Coast Elects Parliament - VOA
Low Turnout for Ivory Coast Poll - BBC
Ivory Coast Legislative Polls See Thin Turnout - AP
Ivory Coast Vote Peaceful, Opposition Boycotts - Reuters
Election Day Is Calm in Ivory Coast - Bloomberg
Nigerian Bomb Blasts Kill One, Injure Nearly a Dozen - VOA
Multiple Blasts in Nigeria Kill 1, Wound 11 - AP
Twin Blasts Hit Kenyan Forces in North - AP
Americas
Mexico Says Police in Americas Sharing More Info - AP
Mexican Army Finds Tunnel in Northern Border City - AP
Peru's President Swears in New Cabinet Chief amid Mine Crisis - LAT
Peru's President in Major Shake-Up of Cabinet - AP
Peru's Humala Tightens Grip in Cabinet Overhaul - Reuters
Voters in Brazil Reject Para State's Partition - AP
Noriega Returns to Panama to Serve More Jail Time - VOA
Noriega Extradited Home to Panama after 21 Years - LAT
Jailed Noriega Arrives in Panama - BBC
Noriega Is Sent to Prison Back in Panama - NYT
Noriega Returns to Panama a Largely Irrelevant Man - AP
Panama's Noriega Returns: What Secrets Might He Spill? - CSM
Asia Pacific
UN Climate Talks’ Real-World Outcome will be Determined in Asia - WP
Christmas Display Near DMZ Sparks Fear of Reprisal from N. Korea - S&S
S. Korea: Chinese Sailors Stab Coast Guard Officers - AP
Japan Launches Spy Satellite - AP
China’s Spies Are Catching Up - NYT opinion
Europe
Chronic Pain for the Euro - NYT
EU Summit Outcome 'Bad for Britain' - BBC
UK PM Cameron’s EU Veto Splinters Coalition - WP
Clegg Attacks Cameron's EU Treaty Veto as Bad for Britain - TT
The Day Europe Lost Patience with Britain - Reuters
French Government Warns Opponents on EU Treaty Delay - Reuters
Medvedev Orders Probe Of Russian Election Fraud Allegations - VOA
Large Russian Protests Get a Response - WT
Medvedev Orders Probe on Alleged Russia Election Fraud - AP
Russia: Medvedev Election Post Draws Ire - BBC
Russians Scoff at Election Inquiry - WP
Medvedev Orders Russia Poll Inquiry, Gets Insults - Reuters
Boosted by Putin, Russia’s Middle Class Turns on Him - NYT
Russian Protests: Why I Took to Moscow's Streets - CSM
After Russian Protests, Putin Says He'll Listen - AP
Russian Orthodox Church: Influential Voice for Election Reform - NYT
France: Villepin to Stand for President - BBC
Ex-PM Villepin Seeks French Presidency, Harms Sarkozy - Reuters
German Police Arrest Suspect in Neo-Nazi Cell Probe - AP
Obama Must Back Ideals of Russia Protests, Not Putin - CSM editorial
Russia Elections: Public Anger at Putin, Can He Fix Corruption? - CSM opinion
South Asia
Comments
Pleased to see some defence coming out in favour of night raids continuing. Apologies if this topic has been addressed but I have been on the road.
I recently had an OpEd published in Australia defending this tactic following the call for it to be stopped after the recent Loya Jirga in Kabul. The response from commentators was classic in the politically correct mind set of how we need to fight wars politely. http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3686666.html
We must not allow our political decision makers fall for an appeal to cultural or social sensitivities; a classic attempt to exploit our propensity for political correctness, even in times of war. This is well recognised as much as an asymmetrica weakness as any material/power/technology weakness by our opponents.
The Taliban certainly have a sense of the effects their actions will achieve in the cultural and religious environment in which they operate.
We often misread the cultural context of this movement and misjudge its ability to undermine Western psychological and moral dimensions. The irony is that those who opposed the government and political structure are now using that vehicle to raise their protestations.
Jason