News and Analysis (8/6/09)

Almost immediately, doubts about the conference’s legitimacy and effectiveness emerge:

• ‘Stormy’ Start to Fatah’s Historic Summit (Christian Science Monitor)

An area once infamous for the distinct cultural differences between American forces and Iraqi citizens:

• Change of Guard in Baghdad’s Green Zone (Washington Post)

Demonstrating the lack of democracy and free  speech in Morocco,  favorable polls were blocked because “the monarchy ‘can’t be an object of debate’”:

• Morocco Suppresses Poll Despite Favorable Results for King (Christian Science Monitor)

Conflicting reports since the 15-year-old’s arrest challenge the idea Rania was a  “villain”:

• Iraqi Girl Jailed for Attempted Suicide Bombing (Guardian)

Families destroyed by poverty and war has resulted in a “new phenomenon”, old  folks  homes:

• Grim Times for the Elderly in Iraq (LA Times)

“We are not saying that poverty causes terrorism, or disenfranchisement causes terrorism, but we can’t mistake there are certain phenomena that contribute to it”:

• Obama’s Battle Against Terrorism To Go Beyond Bombs and Bullets (Washington Post)

Will lessons from Afghanistan and Iraq emerge in the US strategy to stabilize Somalia?

• US pledges support for Somalia (Al Jazeera)