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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Japanese business sentiment dips

Japanese business sentiment dips Sentiment among large Japanese manufacturers has turned sharply negative since the March earthquake and tsunami and resulting nuclear crisis, but companies expect conditions to improve over the next three months, the Bank of Japan’s Tankan survey shows.

The closely watched quarterly survey underscored the impact of the disaster on business and current worries about electricity supplies. But it will also reinforce hopes that economic recovery will be swift.

The Tankan’s headline index, which compares the number of large manufacturers reporting positive conditions with those reporting negative views, fell to -9 for June, a decline of 15 points from the +6 reported three months ago. The decline was sharper than economists’ expectations, but the survey forecast an 11-point rebound in the big manufacturers index by September.
http://link.ft.com/r/UXDMSS/TUPZNH/ZBHOFE/D4A21V/9Z28I1/JY/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=30

Christine Lagarde and the demand for dollars

Posted:
Source: The New York Times Economix After receiving support from the United States at the critical moment, Christine Lagarde was named Tuesday as the next managing director of the International Monetary Fund. In campaigning for the job, Ms. Lagarde, France’s finance minister, made various promises to emerging markets with regard to improving their relationships with [...]

The Lawless Presidency

Daily Beast / Newsweek (June 28, 2011)

The Lawless Presidency

Obama's lawyers are foundering in explaining the legal rationale for his Libyan adventure. Bruce Ackerman on our broken system of giving presidents legal advice—and how to fix it.


at http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/06/28/obama-s-flawed-legal-reasoning-on-libya-and-how-to-fix-it.html

Gates makes his exit

Gates makes his exit

Today marks Robert Gates' last day as secretary of defense. On a day that will feature its share of testimonials from others, let me offer my own. My view is no doubt colored by the fact that I served him for more than two years, but, then again, the experience of witnessing his leadership and decision-making up close and often behind closed doors clarified more than it distorted.

Greece on the Brink - France to the Rescue. William Pfaff

Greece on the Brink - France to the Rescue. William Pfaff
2011/6/30
http://www.williampfaff.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=524

WHAT IS THE PRESIDENT'S GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY?


 

WHAT IS THE PRESIDENT'S GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY?

According to President Obama, he has no higher duty than to protect the American people.  But that's not what the Constitution says.

"As President, I have often said that I have no greater responsibility than protecting the American people," wrote President Obama in the new "National Strategy for Counterterrorism" (pdf) that was released by the White House yesterday.  A similar sentiment appears in the Introduction to the new Strategy, which states that the President "bears no greater responsibility than ensuring the safety and security of the American people."

This seems like a fateful misunderstanding.  As chief executive and commander in chief of the armed forces, the President obviously has responsibility for national security.  But to claim that he has no greater responsibility than "protecting the American people" is a paternalistic invention that is historically unfounded and potentially damaging to the political heritage of the nation.

The presidential oath of office that is prescribed by the U.S. Constitution (Art. II, sect. 1) makes it clear that the President's supreme responsibility is to "...preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."  There is no mention of public safety.  It is the constitutional order that the President is sworn to protect, even if doing so entails risks to the safety and security of the American people.

The new Strategy document attempts to foreclose the possibility of any conflict between constitutional values and public security by asserting that the two always coincide.  "We are committed to upholding our most cherished values as a nation not just because doing so is right but also because doing so enhances our security."  It just so happens, the document says, that constitutional values are instrumentally useful in advancing security.  "Adherence to those core values -- respecting human rights, fostering good governance, respecting privacy and civil liberties, committing to security and transparency, and upholding the rule of law -- enables us to build broad international coalitions to act against the common threat posed by our adversaries while further delegitimizing, isolating, and weakening their efforts." (p.4).

But the idea that adherence to constitutional values always enhances security is wishful thinking.  The Constitution imposes burdensome limits on government authority and guarantees various rights in order to advance individual freedom, not collective security.  As a result, the interests of security and constitutional freedom are often in conflict, and it is necessary to give priority to one or the other.  One has to choose.

Greece can be saved from financial ruin

Greece can be saved from financial ruin Greece avoided an imminent default by taking a brave vote for more fiscal austerity. Yet there can be no doubt that this second bail-out, which follows a similar short-term package in March 2010, must be the last of its kind. Either Greece with its eurozone partners will agree on a long-term solution, or the rioters in the streets of Athens will prevail the next time that the Greek political system is pushed to the financial brink, says Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University.
http://link.ft.com/r/ZE9K33/MS96W0/NS9NWA/OJIY3N/WLUJBQ/FW/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=30

Papandreou wins second crucial vote

Papandreou wins second crucial vote Greece has cleared the way for fresh international financial aid to avert a damaging default after its government won a second, decisive parliamentary vote on implementing sweeping austerity measures.
http://link.ft.com/r/5F39HH/AM7FLZ/268VPS/6V8GD5/6V0HZP/CM/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=30

Obama Redirects From A Broke US Government By Playing The Class Warfare Card, Focuses On "Millionaires And Billionaires"

Obama Redirects From A Broke US Government By Playing The Class Warfare Card, Focuses On "Millionaires And Billionaires"

from zero hedge

IEA Already Considering Extending Oil Release Period, Fireselling More Crude To China

IEA Already Considering Extending Oil Release Period, Fireselling More Crude To China

from zero hedge

More Pain Ahead

More Pain Ahead

from zero hedge

Tracing America's "Too Big To Fail" Crisis: An Infographic

Tracing America's "Too Big To Fail" Crisis: An Infographic (Guest Post)

from EconMatters

'War on terror' set to surpass cost of Second World War By Rupert Cornwell in Washington

'War on terror' set to surpass cost of Second World War

By Rupert Cornwell in Washington

The total cost to America of its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, plus the related military operations in Pakistan, is set to exceed $4 trillion – more than three times the sum so far authorised by Congress in the decade since the 9/11 attacks.

API: Study finds oil, gas assets strong public pension performers

API: Study finds oil, gas assets strong public pension performers
Oil and gas stocks in 17 US states' public pension funds had returns which were 3.4 times their share of total assets from 2005 through 2009, a study commissioned by the American Petroleum Institute showed.

Study projects $205.2 billion in midstream gas outlays by 2035

Study projects $205.2 billion in midstream gas outlays by 2035
An average $8.2 billion/year will have to be spent by 2035 for the US and Canada to accommodate new natural gas supplies, particularly from prolific shale plays, and meet growing demand, a study commissioned by the INGAA Foundation concluded.
Full Article

Oklahoma: Study sees strong growth of oil and gas industry, jobs

Oklahoma: Study sees strong growth of oil and gas industry, jobs

Chinese firm to invest 10 million euros in Congo forest area

Chinese firm to invest 10 million euros in Congo forest area

Control of oil will decide Libyan war

Control of oil will decide Libyan war

An Infrastructure Bank for Transportation

An Infrastructure Bank for Transportation

Europe accounts for 70 percent of Global Biodiesel Production

Europe accounts for 70 percent of Global Biodiesel Production; a Global Market Expected to Total 26Bn Gallons by 2015 : companiesandmarkets.com

Time: How America Can Avoid a Greek Tragedy Author: Michael H. Shuman

Time: How America Can Avoid a Greek Tragedy

Author:
Michael H. Shuman

No Pause in Greek Debt Drama

No Pause in Greek Debt Drama

June 29, 2011
Author:

Obama should support the Audacity of Hope, condemn Israeli naval blockade

Obama should support the Audacity of Hope, condemn Israeli naval blockade

By Ann Wright - 06/28/11 05:15 PM ET

Winners and Losers

Winners and Losers
by Philip Giraldi, June 30, 2011
http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2011/06/29/winners-and-losers/

WPR Media Roundup:30 Jun 2011

World Politics Review

Media Roundup: 30 Jun 2011

U.S. Monthly Combat Deaths in Iraq at 3-Year High

By: TIM ARANGO | The New York Times
With three more American soldiers killed this week, the combat-related deaths for United States forces in Iraq reached a monthly toll not seen since 2008.

Afghan Taliban Sends Message With Hotel Attack

By: Laura King and Aimal Yaqubi | Los Angeles Times
If the Taliban was trying to play on unease among Afghans and Western governments about the ability of the police and army to safeguard the country, it chose the right target and time.

Taiwan Unveils Upgraded Fighter Jets

By: Sam Yeh | Agence France-Presse
Taiwan on Thursday unveiled an upgraded version of its locally developed fighter jet in a bid to boost its air defences against China after the US declined to sell it F16 warplanes.

More News

Financial Times - Comment 6/30

Financial Times - Comment
 

Companies make it easy for hackers
Although cleaning up past software errors is time-consuming and difficult – as Sony has found – none of it is beyond the corporate grasp, writes John Gapper
http://link.ft.com/r/FG6LAA/AM7RN5/IYD9ZO/726GVI/JIDAES/ZH/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=30
 
Germany is the loser from Greece’s wriggle
Even today, there is a consensus that Berlin reaps huge benefits from Emu. This was only ever partially true; it is no longer true at all, writes Derek Scott
http://link.ft.com/r/FG6LAA/AM7RN5/IYD9ZO/726GVI/406PC2/ZH/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=30
 
China can yet avoid a middle-income trap
In line with the Chinese proverb about crossing the river by feeling the stones, economic and financial policies change slowly, writes George Magnus
http://link.ft.com/r/FG6LAA/AM7RN5/IYD9ZO/726GVI/RNRK3P/ZH/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=30
 
Today’s austerity is tomorrow’s indignation
Child benefits are to be cut, but Ken Clarke will not have to mourn the passing of his free bus pass or winter fuel payments, writes Chris Giles
http://link.ft.com/r/FG6LAA/AM7RN5/IYD9ZO/726GVI/M9EMSN/ZH/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=30
 
Google hopes Spark ignites its social network
The latest phase of the tech industry’s platform wars is bringing a new convergence that could squeeze out some promising start-ups
http://link.ft.com/r/FG6LAA/AM7RN5/IYD9ZO/726GVI/HDXVYJ/ZH/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=30
 
London: listing with the fishes
Has the London Stock Exchange become a home to risky companies with questionable corporate governance practices, asks Robert Shrimsley
http://link.ft.com/r/FG6LAA/AM7RN5/IYD9ZO/726GVI/S3FDPP/ZH/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=30
 

FT.com - Markets Insight
 

Washington's fiscal recklessness rules out QE3
Fed officials need to admit that they have done all that can reasonably be expected of them to meet their dual mandate, writes Edward Yardeni
http://link.ft.com/r/FG6LAA/AM7RN5/IYD9ZO/726GVI/S3FDPH/ZH/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=30
 

Unaccountable: Pentagon Spending on the Post-9/11 Wars

A very informative paper on this topic which exposes the gross mismanagement of accounting functions in the Pentago may be found at: http://costsofwar.org/sites/default/files/articles/39/attachments/Wheeler%20Pentagon%20Spending.pdf

It was contributed by Winslow Wheeler to the study summarized at: http://costsofwar.org/article/economic-cost-summary

Winslow Wheeler on the Costs of the War

Released Wednesday by the sponsoring Watson Institute of Brown University, a new multi-author study of the costs of the post-9/11 wars is available at http://costsofwar.org/.  Most prominently, the study finds the appropriations thus far to have been between $2.3 and 2.7 trillion; with an additional $884 to $1,334 billion to already have been incurred for future costs for veterans and their families.  This would make a total, incurred thus far, of from $3.2 Trillion to $4.0 trillion. (Find a summary of these costs at http://costsofwar.org/article/economic-cost-summary.)  It is important to note that these are budget costs to the federal government, not the broader economic costs to the economy or even other costs to state and local governments.
 
The study also addresses those broader costs, such as the human costs in terms of civilian dead, the wounded, refugees, and more. 
 
There is certainly some you will find to disagree with, but it is clear that advocates of the various conflicts who pretend the costs have been only the $1 trillion that President Obama articulated last week are feeding the nation grotesquely inaccurate information.  Others, like departing SecDef Gates, who pretend that DOD spending is not a major factor in the size of our deficit are not particularly skilled in "math," an elementary skill for government types that Secretary Gates has chosen to deride and ignore.
 
I participated in the Costs of War study; my paper on the DOD costs is at http://costsofwar.org/sites/default/files/articles/39/attachments/Wheeler%20Pentagon%20Spending.pdf.  It makes two basic points on p. 14:
 
    1) "... while [the Congressional Research Service] and others have done long, hard, and excellent work to capture the identifiable appropriations to the Pentagon for the Post-9/11 wars, the $1.2 trillion CRS has, for example, identified in current dollars is problematic, but the fault is not with CRS, CBO, or GAO. The available figures have gaping holes and problems in them because of the sloppy, inept and misleading accounting of the costs by the Defense Department and Congress."
 
    2) "The $667 billion in 2011 dollars ($617 billion in current dollars) appropriated to the Defense Department's base budget since 2001 as a result of the wars, while squandered, should be included in any comprehensive attempt to capture the total cost of the wars. These amounts would bring the total DOD costs of the wars to $1.98 Trillion in constant 2011 dollars and $1.82 trillion in current dollars."
 
A Reuters story below summarizes the overall "Costs of War" study.
 
 

Cost of war at least $3.7 trillion and counting

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Commentary: Vietnam redux By ARNAUD DE BORCHGRAVE


Commentary: Vietnam redux
By ARNAUD DE BORCHGRAVE
UPI Editor at Large

Tim Pawlenty's Foreign-Policy Speech Refutes Itself By Conor Friedersdorf

Tim Pawlenty's Foreign-Policy Speech Refutes Itself By Conor Friedersdorf

Senator Wants US-Israeli Op Against Flotilla

Senator Wants US-Israeli Op Against Flotilla


June 29, 2011
by Bryant Jordan
http://www.military.com/news/article/senator-wants-us-israeli-op-against-flotilla.html

Deadlock Delays Vote on New U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement By Ahmed Ali

Deadlock Delays Vote on New U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement

By Ahmed Ali

Barack Obama the warmaker

Barack Obama the warmaker
It's hard to imagine the president supporting three wars if he were still a senator

Riyadh will build nuclear weapons if Iran gets them, Saudi prince warns

Riyadh will build nuclear weapons if Iran gets them, Saudi prince warns

Prospect of a nuclear conflict in the Middle East is raised by senior diplomat and member of the Saudi ruling family

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/29/saudi-build-nuclear-weapons-iran

The Impact of Globalization on Income and Employment

The Impact of Globalization on Income and Employment

Jobs growth was slow in May, renewing pessimism about the U.S. economy.

The Future of U.S. Energy

The Future of U.S. Energy

Duke Energy's Chairman, President, and CEO Jim Rogers discusses the future of energy in the United States with CFR's Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment, Michael Levi.

Why the Old Jobs Aren't Coming Back

Why the Old Jobs Aren't Coming Back

Michael Spence says the temporary effects of a stimulus package will not fix the lasting effects of structural change.

The Costs of War from The Washington Note by Jordan D'Amato

The Costs of War

from The Washington Note

The True Cost Of The War On Terror: $3.7Trillion And Counting… And Up To 258,000 Lives -- The Daily Mail

The True Cost Of The War On Terror: $3.7Trillion And Counting… And Up To 258,000 Lives -- The Daily Mail

The cost of U.S. military action in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan will run to at least $3.7trillion, a study has revealed today.

The staggering figure could reach as high as $4.4trillion, with the deaths of up to 258,000 people, according to research by Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies.

In human terms, 224,000 to 258,000 people have died directly from warfare - including 125,000 civilians in Iraq.

Read more
....

Legacy of Mental Health Problems from Iraq and Afghanistan Wars Will Be Long-Lived

Legacy of Mental Health Problems from Iraq and Afghanistan Wars Will Be Long-Lived

Service members returning from combat present a long-term treatment challenge

North Korea Assumes Presidency Of U.N. Arms Control Conference -- Daily Caller

North Korea Assumes Presidency Of U.N. Arms Control Conference -- Daily Caller

In the latest ‘you’ve got to be kidding’ news from the United Nations, North Korea assumed the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament Tuesday.

“Bare months after the U.N. finally suspended Libya’s Col. Muammar Qaddafi from its Human Rights Council, North Korea wins the propaganda coup of heading the world’s disarmament agency,” the executive director of UN Watch Hillel Neuer said in a statement protesting the move. “It’s asking the fox to guard the chickens, and damages the U.N.’s credibility.”

Read more ....

America’s Bleak Jobs Future

America’s Bleak Jobs Future

A former Clinton economic adviser warned that the U.S. might not see employment return to pre-recession levels until 2023.

Pakistan's China Card

Pakistan's China Card

from RealClearWorld

Uneven Aging of America; Cultural Shift Coming; Competition for Resources Between Young and Old Will Be Intense

Uneven Aging of America; Cultural Shift Coming; Competition for Resources Between Young and Old Will Be Intense

Tunisia's New al-Nahda from Marc Lynch by Marc Lynch

Tunisia's New al-Nahda

from Marc Lynch

Like Nixon, Obama Will Waste Lives to Get Reelected

Like Nixon, Obama Will Waste Lives to Get Reelected

from Antiwar.com Original by Ivan Eland

http://original.antiwar.com/eland/2011/06/...-get-reelected/

Dealmaking slides 17.5% on outlook concerns

 

Dealmaking slides 17.5% on outlook concerns
Global merger and acquisition volumes fell 17.5 per cent in the second quarter as companies took fright from renewed concerns about the future of the eurozone and the outlook for the global economy
http://link.ft.com/r/19JYUU/KQETCZ/KEIJMC/5CGTP5/M9E7AQ/ID/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=29

Jim Hightower | The Unanswered Question in Afghanistan Is, Why?

Jim Hightower | The Unanswered Question in Afghanistan Is, Why?
Jim Hightower, Truthout: "So why have two presidents and a decade of Congress dumped so many lives and so much money into a country that poses no threat to us? Afghanistan is an impoverished, anarchic, largely illiterate land that's split into ancient tribal factions and innumerable fiefdoms controlled by rival warlords. They have no desire or ability to attack us, some 8,000 miles away. The only reason we're given for being in Afghanistan is that we must keep the al-Qaeda terrorists network from establishing bases there."
Read the Article

The secret role of energy in bringing U.S. jobs back

The secret role of energy in bringing U.S. jobs back

How a reliable grid can trump cheap wages.

Oil Reserve Release: QE3 by Other Means?

Oil Reserve Release: QE3 by Other Means?

Federal Withholding Tax Data Says US Already In Recession


Federal Withholding Tax Data Says US Already In Recession

Courtesy of  Lee Adler of the Wall Street Examiner

The Upcoming Brawl Over Energy Subsidies

The Upcoming Brawl Over Energy Subsidies

While Republicans hold the national debt increase hostage, Congress is deciding what to cut and what to gut (expansion or creation of new programs is largely off the table). Energy subsidies are already falling under the knife. Mark Muro at Brookings figures that if we're going to they're going after energy subsidies anyway, now is the time for real reform.

An Infrastructure Bank for Transportation

An Infrastructure Bank for Transportation

Another creative funding idea that’s getting some attention lately is a national infrastructure bank, an independent entity that would use government funding to attract major private investment in public infrastructure projects. NYU professor Michael Likosky recently convened a meeting between Treasury officials, bankers, pension funds and hedge fund managers to discuss how such a bank might work.

Parsing Google’s Energy Innovation Report

Parsing Google’s Energy Innovation Report

from Power-Gen International Starts: Day 1 | The Energy Collective

Google: Energy Innovation Can Have A “Transformative Impact” On U.S.

Google: Energy Innovation Can Have A “Transformative Impact” On U.S.

A few years ago, the high-tech giant Google helped reframe the national energy and climate policy debate when it launched its “RE” program, or “renewable energy cheaper than coal.” The idea was clear: instead of primarily focusing on making fossil fuels expensive through climate policy, Google believed the U.S.

Looking At The Real Cost Of A Gallon Of Gas …

Looking At The Real Cost Of A Gallon Of Gas …

How should we understand the cost of a gallon of gasoline? This is a very serious question with a myriad of layers and implications.

Tapping the SPR: The Root of Dysfunctional Energy Policies

Tapping the SPR: The Root of Dysfunctional Energy Policies

It seems that nothing quite brings out the silliness in politicians like the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). As you undoubtedly have now heard, the United States and the International Energy Agency are coordinating to release 60 million barrels of oil to the world markets. The U.S. portion of the release will be 30 million barrels from the SPR.

Reality Check for the Natural Gas Boom: A Look at the NYT Shale Gas E-Mails

Reality Check for the Natural Gas Boom: A Look at the NYT Shale Gas E-Mails

I doubt that this will ever reach the levels of public interest that has led earlier exposures of information to acquire a “gate” appendage, but the New York Times (NYT) has begun a running series of articles, starting this weekend, on e-mails that they have acquired that largely deal with the gas shale business. In the discussion on Focus today, it was the first topic of conversation, and so I thought I would write about what the fuss is about. Not, I should hasten to add, that any of this should come as a surprise to you gentle
Read more...

The Strategic Importance of Bahrain to Saudi Arabia

The Strategic Importance of Bahrain to Saudi Arabia

The small archipelago nation of Bahrain can't seem to stay out of the news lately, as the government continues its containment of civil protests that it perceives as a threat to its rule. The majority (60-70%) Shi'a population has observed the examples of regime-change elsewhere in the Middle East and were demonstrating publicly about their treatment under the Sunni monarchy. The Bahrain military has escalated its armed repression of these demonstrations, and Saudi Arabia eventually sent troops there. Iran expressed its sincere displeasure with that, recalling its ambassador to Saudi Arabia. The United States, which has a strategic
Read more...

The Largest Solar Rooftop Project in the World: Total Cost $2.6 Billion

The Largest Solar Rooftop Project in the World: Total Cost $2.6 Billion

Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Prologis, and NRG Energy team up for the largest rooftop distributed solar project in the world.
Rooftop solar energy is great for the home, but businesses are beginning to realize the potential of tapping into urban roof space for utilities-scale electricity generation.  Through a distributed approach—which links together several small-scale solar modules to essentially create a vastly dispersed solar farm—rooftop space can be taken advantage of for solar installation rather than building atop hundreds of acres of land.  That’s exactly the approach being taken by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Prologis, and NRG Energy, who have
Read more...

Iranian Deputy Oil Minister - Era of Cheap Oil is Over

Iranian Deputy Oil Minister - Era of Cheap Oil is Over

Iran’s deputy Oil Minister Ghazaleh Taifeh stated bluntly, "The era of cheap and low-cost oil production in Iran, which was always considered the most important advantage of Iran's oil industry, has come to an end. To maintain oil production $5 billion is being invested this year."
Iranian oil experts believe that in order to keep its 14-percent OPEC share Iran has to turn to the use of new technology and new investment, Tehran’s Donya-ye Eqtesad reported.
The uncomfortable fact for Iran’s Oil Ministry is that 80 percent of the nation's oil fields are in the second half of their lives and their
Read more...

Greece's true problems are only just beginning

Greece's true problems are only just beginning With today’s vote in favour of a medium term fiscal plan, Greece has just escaped the immediate danger of financial collapse. But in the coming days and months a series of crucial decisions are pending which mean the prospect of both fiscal default and political crisis will rarely be far from the headlines, writes Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group.
http://link.ft.com/r/19JYUU/GDKPFD/3O62UJ/C520EZ/6V0UJH/LE/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=29

WPR Media Roundup: 29 Jun 2011

World Politics Review

Media Roundup: 29 Jun 2011

Kabul Raid Shows Taliban's Strength, Tests Afghan Security Coordination

By: Ben Arnoldy and Zubair Babakarkhail | The Christian Science Monitor
While last night's deadly suicide raid on Kabul's InterContinental Hotel showcased Taliban capabilities, early details also indicate some success in the new model of having Afghan forces take more of a lead on security.

Police, Protesters Clash in Cairo

The Associated Press
Egyptian security forces and protesters clashed for a second successive day in central Cairo on Wednesday in scenes not seen since the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak in February. Riot police were deployed around the Interior Ministry and were using tear gas to keep the protesters at bay.

Is Hugo Still Boss?

By: MICHAEL SHIFTER | Foreign Policy
It's unclear whether the charismatic Venezuelan president is really all that ill. But what is clear is that his country is in serious trouble, whether or not he returns from convalescing in Cuba.

More News

Media Conference Call: Obama’s Afghanistan Strategy

Media Conference Call: Obama’s Afghanistan Strategy

Speakers: Leslie H. Gelb, President Emeritus and Board Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations

Stephen Biddle, Roger Hertog Senior Fellow for Defense Policy, Council on Foreign Relations
Presider: Bernard Gwertzman, Consulting Editor, CFR.org
June 24, 2011

audio icon - media-conference-call-obamas-afghanistan-strategyaudio iconAudio

Ill-Advised Retreat from Afghanistan

Ill-Advised Retreat from Afghanistan

Kabul attack underscores fragility of Afghan security. Analysis by Mary E. Stonaker

Kabul attack underscores fragility of Afghan security. Analysis by Mary E. Stonaker

The Afghan Commitment America Needs

The Afghan Commitment America Needs

Afghanistan: For Real Savings, Make a Real Withdrawal

Afghanistan: For Real Savings, Make a Real Withdrawal

US cost of war at least $3.7 trillion

US cost of war at least $3.7 trillion

 

 

 

CFR Crisis Guide examines Pakistan's security situation.

A new report by the Federation of American Scientists raises concerns that Pakistan's rapidly growing nuclear weapons stockpile (WSJ) may be at greater risk since the emergence of powerful militant groups with links to the country's security services. This CFR Crisis Guide examines Pakistan's security situation.

Are Pakistan’s Nukes Safe?

Are Pakistan’s Nukes Safe?

US aims to turn Afghanistan into neutral zone

Financial Times
June 27, 2011 11:15 pm

US aims to turn Afghanistan into neutral zone

Fifth Degree, Second Thoughts

The Wall Street Journal
  • JUNE 28, 2011

Fifth Degree, Second Thoughts

The best way to get information from a detainee? Rapport, personal trust and . . . manipulation.

By ALI SOUFAN

The Interrogator: An Education, by Glenn L. Carle
(Nation Books, 321 pages, $26.99)

Memoirs of Torturers By David Swanson

Memoirs of Torturers
By David Swanson
http://warisacrime.org/node/58316

US foreign policy invigorated at the expense of Gaza By RAMZY BAROUD | ARAB NEWS

Arab news

US foreign policy invigorated at the expense of Gaza

By RAMZY BAROUD | ARAB NEWS

A new Palestinian strategy unfolds

The Daily Star



A new Palestinian strategy unfolds
June 29, 2011
By Rami G. Khouri

Financial Times Energy 6/29

FT.com - Energy
 

Norway launches carbon capture and storage scheme
http://link.ft.com/r/R5WAEE/ZGB7T4/268VPS/3OHPP4/S3FMR8/T3/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=29
 
Smiths chief hints at plans for sell-off
http://link.ft.com/r/R5WAEE/ZGB7T4/268VPS/3OHPP4/3O89G4/T3/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=29
 
China enters shale gas era with tender offer
http://link.ft.com/r/R5WAEE/ZGB7T4/268VPS/3OHPP4/XT1KU0/T3/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=29
 
IEA move sees spread bets turn sour for oil traders
http://link.ft.com/r/R5WAEE/ZGB7T4/268VPS/3OHPP4/ZBTYL7/T3/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=29
 
IEA versus Opec
http://link.ft.com/r/R5WAEE/ZGB7T4/268VPS/3OHPP4/5COJ6Y/T3/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=29
 

FT.com - Utilities
 

Shareholders vent anger at Tepco
http://link.ft.com/r/R5WAEE/ZGB7T4/268VPS/3OHPP4/M9ECIU/T3/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=29
 
Fears raised over Northumbrian Water bid
http://link.ft.com/r/R5WAEE/ZGB7T4/268VPS/3OHPP4/9Z23VQ/T3/h?a1=2011&a2=6&a3=29
 

Fracking the Future

Fracking the Future

Opec calls for IEA oil release halt

Call for halt: Opec Secretary-General Abdullah al-Badri slams IEA's oil release decision
Image courtesy of SCANPIX/AFP PHOTO/JOE KLAMAR
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The Virtue-less war of the nintendo bomber

P U L S E

The Virtue-less war of the nintendo bomber

Muhammad Idrees Ahmad
http://pulsemedia.org/2011/06/28/the-virtue-less-war-of-the-nintendo-bomber/
In April, the British Ministry of Defence published a study which for the first time gave serious consideration to the moral, ethical and legal aspects of the drone wars. The study advises defense planners that ‘before unmanned systems become ubiquitous’ they must ‘ensure that, by removing some of the horror, or at least keeping it at a distance we do not risk losing our controlling humanity and make war more likely.’ The report is particularly concerned that the low risks of using drones were enabling policy makers to consider military action in places where they would otherwise be hesitant: ‘the use of force is totally a function of the existence of an unmanned capability,’ it suggests.
The conclusions of the report are sobering. So is the fact that it was produced by a British military think tank rather than a US Congressional committee. In the US, the media and political establishment are still romancing the drone with the kind of giddy attention that sometimes borders on the inappropriate. In a May 10, 2009 segment on the Predator drone, Lara Logan of CBS’s 60 Minutes was positively breathless. Two years later, at a New America Foundation conference on drones, Professor Thomas Nachbar of the University of Virginia School of Law declared drones ‘fun’ and argued ‘against more transparency’ in their use.
Drones are attractive to US militarists and their courtiers because they are politically liberating. In their battle against public opinion and institutional inertia, politicians have often found technology an ally. The drones must therefore be understood in the context of a long-standing US desire to develop the technological means for achieving global Pax Americana. And for a century, airpower has been a key component of this vision.