An anonymous Pentagon official says that Gen. George W. “Casey told [Defense Secretary Robert] Gates in Iraq that an infusion of U.S. forces would not help him politically with the Iraqi government and could impede reconciliation effortsâ€:
·       Gates Gives Bush Evaluation of Iraq War (Washington Post)
Israeli PM’s offer of “flexibility and generosity†at the approach of Eid-al-adhha marks a change from his earlier position that none of the political prisoners held by Israel would be freed unless the one Israeli soldier held by Hamas is freed first:
·       Olmert Suggests Early Palestinian Prisoner Release (Reuters)
The Iranian reaction to U.N. sanctions was predictable; so, were the movers of the sanctions naïve or were they seeking to accelerate the showdown?
·       Iran to Expand Enrichment in Defiance of Sanctions (AFP)
Iranian U.N. ambassador says the Security Council’s attempt to restrict Iran’s nuclear energy program while ignoring Israel’s nuclear weapons “proves its bias against Iran.â€
·       U.N. Approves Iran Sanctions: Iran Vows to Continue Efforts to Enrich Uranium (Washington Post)
The Muslim country in which “two women have alternated as prime minister for the last 15 years†looks to continue the pattern:
·       Hasina to Contest Bangladesh Election (Reuters)
Sistani opposes attempts to escalate the isolation of al-Sadr which, to date, have been a disaster:
·       Key Iraqi Cleric Rejects U.S. Bid For Moderate Political Bloc (Washington Post)
Ethiopia justifies bloodshed by its invasion force as “self-defenseâ€:
·       Ethiopia Attacks Somalia Islamic Council (Newsday / AP)
In a country that boasts a commitment to the shari`ah, this human rights advocate wants to prove that “nobody is above the law,†not even its “religious policeâ€:
·       Saudi Lawyer Takes On Religious Court System: Rights Cases Used To Press for Change (Washington Post)
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