ISW News Roundup - January 21, 2009

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Wall Street Journal - Last Israeli Troops Leave Gaza, from AP

LA Times - U.N. chief tours Gaza Strip, Israel town, by Ashraf Khalil

New York Times - Debating the Blame for Reducing Much of a Village to Rubble, by Sabrina Tavernise

New York Times - Few Israelis Near Gaza Feel War Achieved Much, by Isabel Kershner

Christian Science Monitor - Will all Palestinian factions honor Hamas's cease-fire? by Shane Bauer

Christian Science Monitor - Gaza war widens lead of Israel's conservative Likud Party, by Joshua Mitnick

Associated Press - Meeting of Arab leaders on Gaza ends in discord, by Diana Elias

Washington Times - Israeli says Gaza pullout complete, by Amy Teibel

Washington Times - Mitchell front-runner for Mideast envoy, by Nicholas Kralev

 

Iraq Security and Reconstruction

New York Times - Bombs Kill 5 in Baghdad, but Officials Avoid Harm, by Alissa J. Rubin

Washington Post - Iraq Accuses Iranian Exiles of Plotting Attack, by Ernesto Londono

Reuters - Baghdad bomb targets university dean

Reuters - Security developments in Iraq, Jan. 20

Associated Press - Iraq willing to see US troops leave early, by Robert H. Reid

Reuters - After 3 - 1/2 years ,US opens Baghdad water plant, by Peter Graff

Associated Press - 3 oil firms compete for Iraq oil field, by Sinan Salaheddin

 

Iraq Politics and the Provincial Elections

Wall Street Journal - Iraqi Interest in Inauguration Wanes, by U.S. Soldiers Glued to Coverage, by Gina Chon

New York Times - Tribal Rivalries Persist as Iraqis Seek Local Posts, by Sam Dagher

Reuters - Iraq Kurd leader condemns councils backed by Maliki, by Shamal Aqrawi

Reuters - Vote on autonomy for Iraq's Basra struck out

New York Times - Shiite Cleric Urges Iraqis to Vote Jan. 31

Associated Press - Iraqis out stumping for votes in show of democracy, by Kim Gamel and Hamza Hendawi

Reuters - Women may win seats, not rights, in Iraqi poll, by Aseel Kami

Reuters - Q & A on Iraq's provincial elections

Reuters - Iraqis eager for first polls since 2005, by Peter Graff

Washington Post - Iraq's Top Shiite Cleric Urges Participation in Upcoming Vote, by Anthony Shadid

Al Sumaria - Poll: Iraqis prefer secular candidates

 

Afghanistan

Wall Street Journal - U.S. Reaches Deal on Afghan Supply Routes, from AP

Wall Street Journal - Coalition Troops Kill 22 in Afghanistan, from AP

Voice of America - 22 Militants Killed in Afghanistan Coalition Ground, Air Assaults

LA Times - U.S. investigates Afghan civilian deaths claim, from AP

LA Times - Afghanistan seeks more control of NATO troops, from AP

New York Times - U.S. Secures New Supply Routes to Afghanistan, by Richard A. Oppel Jr.

Reuters - Obama faces test with Europe over Afghanistan, by David Brunnstrom

Reuters - Karzai urges West to review Afghan war strategy, by Sayed Salahuddin

Long War Journal - Khyber Pass closed 'indefinitely' after Taliban attacks, by Bill Roggio

The Australian - Karzai must be pressed over Taliban, say Dutch, by Mark Dodd

BBC - Karzai blames allies for problems

BBC - 'Taleban kill six men for spying'

 

Region

Pakistan

Christian Science Monitor  - Pakistan: Do school texts fuel bias? by Issam Ahmed

Reuters - Pakistan tells powers to stop demanding more, by Robert Birsel

Iran

Associated Press - Iran ready to open to energy ties with EU

Washington Post - Iran: Obama must seek 'new' Mideast foreign policy, by Ali Akbar Dareini

UPI - Iran says it cracked U.S. spy ring

Al Qaeda

Washington Times - Al Qaeda bungles arms experiment, by Eli Lake

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