ISW News Roundup - December 18, 2008

Iraq Politics and Reconstruction

BBC - Iraqi ministry officials arrested

Associated Press - Up to 25 Iraqis accused in Saddam party plot, by Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Sinan Salaheddin

Reuters - U.S. says Iraq fails to tackle corrupt high officials, by Missy Ryan

LA Times - Iraq detains police officials, including Interior Ministry generals, by Raheem Salman and Ned Parker

Washington Post - Iraqi Security Officials Detained, by Sudarsan Raghavan and Qais Mizher

New York Times - 35 Iraqi Officials Are Held in Raids on Key Ministry, by Campbell Robertson and Tariq Maher

New York Times - Report Says Iraq May Ban Blackwater, by Scott Shane

Reuters - Iraq PM office says shoe-thrower apologizes, by Wisam Mohammed

Christian Science Monitor - In Iraq, a different kind of drama stages a message of reconciliation, by Edward O'Connell and Cheryl Benard

 

Iraq Security

New York Times - Generals Propose a Timetable for Iraq, by Elisabeth Bumiller and Thom Shanker

Associated Press - Petraeus offers first outlook on Iraq, Afghanistan, by Robert Burns

Khaleej Times - Death toll in Baghdad twin blasts rises to 25

Reuters - British PM announces Iraq troop withdrawal plan, by Luke Baker

Voice of America - British Troops to Complete Iraq Mission in 2009

Defenselink Mil - Iraqis Improve Logistics En Route to Becoming Self-Sufficient, by Army Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield

The Australian - Deal to keep Australian troops in Iraq till July

Associated Press - Albania now pulling its 218 troops out of Iraq

Associated Press - Bulgarian troops return from Iraq

  

Pakistan and Afghanistan

Asia Times - Pakistan groups banned but not bowed, by Syed Saleem Shahzad

Christian Science Monitor - Afghan women fear a retreat to dark days, by Gayle Tzemach

Voice of America- Pakistan Summons Indian Envoy Over Alleged Airspace Violation

Times Online UK - Gunmen attack new Afghan supply route, by Jeremy Page

Associated Press - Pakistanis protest US supply line into Afghanistan, by Munir Ahmad

Daily Times - Tribal militancy threatens US bid to stabilise Afghanistan

Reuters - Rockets fired at Western force supplies in Pakistan, by Ibrahim Shinwari

CNN - Taliban on agenda as Zardari visits Afghanistan

Voice of America - UN Calls for New Afghan Strategy to Protect Civilians

Agence France Presse- Sixth British soldier in a week killed in Afghanistan

 

World

Arab Media

Washington Times - Headlines from the Arab press

Lebanon

New York Times - Russia, Testing U.S. Sway, Offers Lebanon 10 Warplanes, by Robert F. Worth

LA Times - Russia to donate 10 MiG fighter jets to Lebanon, by Borzou Daragahi and Raed Rafei

OPEC

Christian Science Monitor - OPEC announces historic cuts to buoy oil prices, by Liam Stack

Iran

Wall Street Journal - U.S. Claims Iran Tie to a Manhattan Skyscraper, by Evan Perez

Israel

Breitbart - Israel's ruling party holds national primary, by Aron Heller

Russia

Breitbart - Russian treason bill could hit Kremlin critics, by David Nowak

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