Month: October 2009

Described as “insulting and unacceptable,” the terms of the agreement essentially offer the US a great deal of control over the Pakistani government: Pakistanis Balk at U.S. Aid Package (Washington Post) Holding Saudi Arabia responsible, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki claims “he has documents that prove U.S. interference in the disappearance of the Iranian pilgrim…

According to a “well-informed” source, Abbas was videotaped trying to  persuade Barak to continue the war on Gaza: Abbas Pressured to Quit over Report, Threatened with a Video Tape?! (Al Jazeera Magazine) “‘The problem is that the PSDs,’ an abbreviation … [for an] Iraqi slang … catchall term for contractors’ convoys,’ don’t understand that sovereignty…

Hamas calls the Goldstone report “an opportunity to expose Israel’s behavior,” and charges Abbas’ “smothering” of report is “embarrassing not just for Palestinians, but for everyone in the world who tried to help us attain justice” and threatens reconciliation: Palestinians Outraged Over Abbas Bowing to Israel, US (Christian Science Monitor) Palestinian Unity Deal in Jeopardy…

In domestic terrorism investigations, the FBI engages in a policy somewhere between cooperating with and intimidating Muslim community leaders: Probes Test Trust That Authorities Strove to Win From U.S. Muslims (Washington Post) Further illustrating that only the people suffer from government issued sanctions: Black Market Shows Iran Can Adapt to Sanctions (NY Times) “The extraordinary…

“If you look around, you see nothing but jobless people… A lot of people who join the Taliban are jobless, too. If you want to stop the fighting, don’t send us more troops; build us more factories”: A Protection or a Provocation? (Washington Post) As UN inspections go ahead as agreed upon … Nuclear Chief…

Viewed as a “constructive beginning”, does the quick start to negotiations indicate a major paradigm shift in American and/or Iranian foreign policy? Iran, Major Powers Reach Agreement On Series of Points (Washington Post) While taking exception to the implications of moral equivalence between the occupation and resistance to it, prime ministerial adviser Ahmad Yousef’s explanation…

Afghanis project their fears that a buildup of US troops will only strengthen Taliban resolve and deepen the conflict … Afghanistan’s people have advice for U.S (LA Times) … As Western forces still squabble amongst themselves about the August 20th election: Diplomat Is Fired in Clash Over Addressing Afghan Vote Fraud (Washington Post) As the…