National Security | News-Opinion
TOP NEWS: Nat’l Security / Foreign Affairs: September 28th, 2012
- Nod to Obama by Netanyahu in Warning to Iran on Bomb
- Spain Unveils New Set of Overhauls
- Security Fears Hobble Inquiry of Libya Attack
- Joint-Force Operations Resume in Afghanistan
- When Growth Outpaces Happiness OP-ED
Excerpts and more top news and analysis
UN/ISRAEL: Nod to Obama by Netanyahu in Warning to Iran on Bomb – NYT
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel told the United Nations that Iran’s bomb-making ability will be irreversible by next year, but he also praised President Obama following a dispute over Iran policy.
UN/ISRAEL/PALESTINE: Talking at Cross Purposes – NYT, OPINION
Israeli and Palestinian leaders spoke at the United Nations of threats and grievances, but offered no hope for negotiations.
UN/IRAN: Iran Envoy Is Assaulted by Protesters Near the U.N. – NYT
A spokesman for the Iranian Mission at the United Nations was shoved and shouted at by a small group of Iranian exiles protesting a speech at the General Assembly by Iran’s president.
UN/SYRIA: U.N. Council Strengthens Panel Investigating Abuses in Syria – NYT
The United Nations’ human rights body voted on Friday to strengthen and extend the term of the commission gathering evidence of abuses in Syria.
UN/EGYPT: Egypt Assuming a Leadership Role in the Mideast – NATIONAL
On Wednesday, Mohammed Morsi gave his maiden speech to the Assembly as Egypt’s democratically elected leader. In a sense, what he said was less momentous than the manner in which it was said and what it means for the region
UN/MYANMAR: At U.N., Myanmar Leader Highlights Steps to Reform - NYT
President Thein Sein, saying his country was leaving behind five decades of authoritarian rule, paid public tribute to the country’s opposition leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
EUROZONE: SPAIN: Spain Unveils New Set of Overhauls - WSJ
Spain unveiled a package of regulatory overhauls, tax increases and spending cuts for 2013, gaining a short-term market reprieve as concerns mount over Prime Minister Rajoy’s ability to stabilize the economy.
EUROZONE/SPAIN: Despite Public Protests, Spain’s 2013 Budget Plan Includes More Austerity - NYT
The budget involves an average cut of almost 9 percent in the spending of each government ministry next year. Civil servants, meanwhile, will have their salaries frozen for a third consecutive year.
EUROZONE/GREECE: Greece Agrees on New Package of Budget Cuts and Taxes - NYT
The Greek government’s proposal — $15 billion in cuts and $2.6 billion in new taxes — could set off a new wave of protests.
EUROZONE/FRANCE: France Raises Taxes in Tough Budget - WSJ
The Socialist government unveiled France’s toughest budget in decades, raising taxes for the rich and big business in a bid to slash its deficit amid stalled economy.
EUROZONE/GERMANY: German Jobless Claims Rise Again – WSJ
German jobless claims increased for a sixth-straight month in September, indicating that Europe’s erstwhile job machine is sputtering.
LIBYA: Security Fears Hobble Inquiry of Libya Attack – NYT
Unable to safely investigate in Benghazi, the F.B.I. is trying to piece together a deadly attack from more than 400 miles away, and it’s facing “a cavalcade of obstacles,” one American official says.
AFGHANISTAN: Joint-Force Operations Resume in Afghanistan - WSJ
Joint operations between international and Afghan forces are restarting, Pentagon officials said Thursday, easing a prohibition on small-unit patrols that presented a high risk for insider attacks.
CHINA: When Growth Outpaces Happiness – NYT, OP-ED
It is startling to find that Chinese people’s feelings of well-being have declined in a period of such momentous improvement in their economic lives.
CHINA: Ai Weiwei Loses Final Tax Appeal - WSJ
Chinese authorities rejected activist artist Ai Weiwei’s second and final appeal of a $2.4 million tax fine, a ruling he said sprang from a “barbaric and backward legal system.”
CHINA: Ousted From Party in China, Bo Xilai Faces Prosecution - NYT
Beijing officials announced Friday that the disgraced politician had been expelled from the Communist Party and would be prosecuted on criminal charges. The state news agency also said the party congress was scheduled for Nov. 8.
SYRIA: Syrian Rebels Announce Big Offensive in Aleppo – NYT
The number of Syrians fleeing to neighboring countries for safety and aid is likely to exceed 700,000 by the end of the year, according to the United Nations and humanitarian agencies.
SYRIA: Heavy Fighting in Syria’s Largest City - WSJ
Syrian troops and rebels are fighting some of the fiercest battles in the northern city of Aleppo, activists said.
IRAN: A legal hit on Iran – WP, EDITORIAL
What Obama should do first when responding to a nuclear threat.
IRAN/ISRAEL: The Entebbe Option – FP
How the U.S. military thinks Israel might strike Iran.
ISRAEL: Obama Set to Call Netanyahu on Friday – WSJ
Amid criticism for not meeting in person with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while he is in the U.S., President Barack Obama will likely talk with him via phone Friday, the White House said.
ARAB SPRING: The Arab Spring Still Blooms - NYT, OP-ED
The Arab revolutions have not turned anti-Western. They are still about social justice and democracy.
ASIA: The Next Panic – ATLANTIC
Europe’s crisis will be followed by a more devastating one, likely beginning in Japan
MEXICO: U.S. Moves Toward Ending Mexican Tomato Pact – WSJ
The Obama administration took the first step toward allowing U.S. tomato growers to press for tariffs that could lead to higher prices on Mexican tomatoes.
MEXICO: Ammunition for a Trade War Between U.S. and Mexico - NYT
The Department of Commerce took steps to end a 16-year-old agreement with Mexico that makes Mexican tomatoes a bargain in American supermarkets.
SUDAN/S. SUDAN: Sudan and South Sudan Sign Accord, but Several Issues Are Unresolved – NYT
The presidents of Sudan and South Sudan signed a long-awaited cooperation agreement Thursday, paving the way for the much-needed resumption of oil exports. But analysts said the deal came up short.
KENYA/SOMALIA: Kenya Says It Has Captured Last Islamist Bastion in Somalia – NYT
The capture of the port town of Kismayu, if confirmed, would spell an end to the Shabab’s ability to control large tracts of territory and the start of a guerrilla phase of fighting.
VENEZUELA: Behind the Story: TIME’s Tim Padgett Discusses Venezuela’s Coming Election - TIME
TIME’s Latin America correspondent, Tim Padgett, talks about the growing discontent with President Hugo Chávez in Venezuela’s barrios and how he reported his magazine story on the possible end of Chávez’s hold on power
INDIA: India: A Nation in Search of a Dream – ECONOMIST
To persuade voters of the need for reform, India’s leaders need to articulate a new vision of its future
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