News and Analysis (10/30/09)

Virtually assuring the election results will be contested with fraud charges, Afghani government will open more polling stations than UN recommended:

• Afghan Panel Overrides Warnings (Washington Post)

Hosting Mustafa Barghouti and Anna Baltzer, John Stewart encounters strong pressure from the Israeli lobby:

• Daily Show Under Fire for Covering Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Raw Story)

As Clinton squares off against Pakistani criticism of US policy…

• Clinton Faces Pakistani Anger at Drone Attacks (LA Times)

… Pakistani troops find documents that, if authentic, could fuel calls for Western military intervention in the tribal regions:

• Al-Qaida Connection: Foreign Passports Linked to Attacks on West Recovered (Guardian)

Highlighting the high costs of foreign interventionism and bloated military contracts:

• Audit Finds Iraq Contractor Overbilled for Vehicle Parts (Washington Post)

With diplomats “publicly mum,” it remains unclear whether further negotiations or sanctions will result from Iran’s proposed deal changes:

• Iran Reply on Nuclear Deal Called ‘Inadequate’ (LA Times)

Imran

Minaret of Freedom Institute Program Assistant