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TOP NEWS: Nat’l Security / Foreign Affairs: June 7, 2012
- Reports of ‘massacre’ in Syrian village
- Panetta Visits Afghanistan Amid Mounting Violence
- 5 Reasons Why A Global Recession Seems Likely
- Iran Threatens Delays in Nuclear Talks
- European markets rise on hopes of aid for Spain
Excerpts below
Reports of ‘massacre’ in Syrian village – Al Jazeera
Activists say scores killed in assault by pro-government gangs backed by security forces on village near Hama.
Panetta Visits Afghanistan Amid Mounting Violence- Alissa J. Rubin, NY Times
Leon E. Panetta, the United States defense secretary, arrived in Afghanistan on Thursday, after the deadliest day for civilians this year and amid controversy over a NATO airstrike the day before in which Afghan officials say 18 women and children were killed.
5 Reasons Why A Global Recession Seems Likely – Rob Clarfeld, Forbes
Although few economic forecasters are calling for a recession — they never do, I believe that currently there is at least a very significant possibility that we are at the front-end of another global recession.
Iran Threatens Delays in Nuclear Talks – Rick Gladstone and Artin Afkhami, NY Times
Iran raised the possibility on Wednesday of delaying or canceling the resumption of nuclear talks with the big powers, scheduled in less than two weeks, because of what it called dithering by the other side in holding preliminary meetings aimed at ensuring some success.
European markets rise on hopes of aid for Spain – Anthony Faiola, Washington Post
Hopes that Spain may be close to securing aid from the European Union eased market tensions here Thursday, with the government in Madrid pulling off a successful bond sale only two days after officials warned that investors were closing the door to lending the nation more cash.
===More News===
Paralysis in Athens – Randall Fuller, NY Times
[...] With an excruciating choice to be made between draconian austerity measures and a departure from Europe’s shared currency, the birthplace of democracy is paralyzed with indecision and poised to descend into chaos and economic catastrophe.
The Old Guard in a New Mexico – Shannon K. O’Neil, Foreign Affairs
Political rivals and anxious commentators question whether a PRI victory will return Mexico to its less than democratic past. [...] Meanwhile, an often repeated phrase sums up the view of a significant part of the Mexican population: “They may have been corrupt, but they knew how to govern.”
In Mali, an Islamic extremist haven takes shape – Edward Cody, Washington Post
A vast new sanctuary is emerging for al-Qaeda’s African followers in the desert wastelands of northern Mali, where Tuareg secessionists, allied with extremist Muslim guerrillas, have shaken off government rule and declared an independent Islamist state.
China Cuts Interest Rates For First Time Since 2008 – Bloomberg News
China cut borrowing costs for the first time since 2008 and loosened controls on banks’ lending and deposit rates, stepping up efforts to combat a deepening slowdown as Europe’s debt crisis threatens global growth.
Putin Between Assad and Mubarak – Alexander Golts, Moscow Times
Just like Mubarak, Gadhafi and Assad, Putin has built a sham democracy in which fake elections give only the pretense of reflecting the people’s will, and the courts provide only a semblance of the rule of law and justice. [...] He understands that he must fight to the end against the protest movement because the moment he lets down his guard, he could find himself in the same position as Mubarak…
Suu Kyi Pressed Over Talk of Rift – James Hookway and Patrick Barta, Wall Street Journal
Aung San Suu Kyi attempted to play down the impact of her recent warnings to investors to retain a “healthy skepticism” when dealing with Myanmar, which had led to talk of an opening rift with the country’s leadership.
Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico seal the Pacific Alliance for economic integration – MercoPress
Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico signed an accord Wednesday creating the Pacific Alliance to more deeply integrate their economies, and develop new trade links with the Asia-Pacific region.
The Enemy in Foggy Bottom? - Aaron David Miller, Foreign Policy
For the first time in a quarter-century, the United States has a bipartisan — even nonpartisan — consensus on many of the core issues relating to the country’s foreign policy. [..] That consensus may prove to be pretty durable. But to give it real meaning, whoever is elected president ought to choose a secretary of state clearly and unmistakably identified with the opposing party.
