ISW News Roundup - January 28, 2009

Iraq

Washington Post -In Iraq's North, Ethnic Strife Flares as Vote Draws Closer, by Ernesto Londono

Reuters - Police and soldiers kick off Iraqi voting, by Peter Graff and Aseel Kami

New York Times - Shiites' Absence May Affect Iraq Vote, by Timothy Williams and Suadad Al-Salhy

Reuters - Iraq sends Syria first ambassador in decades

Associated Press - Iraqi official appeals to foreign banks to invest

MSNBC - Q & A on Iraqi provincial elections, by Richard Engel

New York Times - Maliki Wins Over Many in Southern Province in Iraq, by Alissa J. Rubin

LA TimesIraq Communists campaign with vigor, by Tina Susman and Raheem Salman

BBC - Iraq troops vote in local polls, by Jim Muir

Wall Street Journal - Bomb Kills Three Iraq Soldiers Ahead of Vote, from AP

 

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Voice of America - Mitchell Says Extending Israel-Hamas Truce 'Critically Important'.

Washington Post - Violence Erupts at Gaza Border as U.S. Envoy Arrives in Region, by Griff Witte

Washington Post - At a Flash Point in Gaza, A Family's Deadly Ordeal, by Jonathan Finer

Reuters - Israel hits Gaza tunnels, U.S. envoy backs truce, by Nidal al-Mughrabi

New York Times - U.S. Envoy Urges Cease-Fire After Gaza Violence, by Isabel Kershner and Ethan Bronner

LA Times - Israel responds to attack by Palestinian militants, by Ashraf Khalil

Associated Press - US doctors face challenges in crippled Gaza, by Karin Laub

Christian Science Monitor - Crux of Gaza cease-fire: border crossings, by Ilene R. Prusher

Christian Science Monitor - Palestinian attack breaches Gaza cease-fire, by Kristen Chick

Reuters - Abbas to tell U.S. envoy Israel not serious on peace, by Andrew Hammond

 

Afghanistan

Washington Post - Gates Predicts 'Slog' in Afghanistan, by Ann Scott Tyson

Reuters - Pentagon sees limit on U.S. troops in Afghanistan

Defenselink Mil - Military Ready to Send More Troops to Afghanistan, Gates Says, by Jim Garamone 

LA Times - Gates says U.S. must set realistic goals in Afghanistan, by Julian E. Barnes

Reuters - Taliban say Guantanamo closure "positive step"

Associated Press - Video in German threatens Afghan coalition troops, by David Rising

Associated Press - Roadside bomb kills 4 Afghan civilians in south

Associated Press - NATO key to more Australian troops in Afghanistan, by Rod McGuirk

New York Times - Aides Say Obama's Afghan Aims Elevate War, by Helene Cooper and Thom Shanker

New York Times - Gates Seeks to Improve Battlefield Trauma Care in Afghanistan, by Thom Shanker

New York Times - Payments Made for Victims of U.S. Raid, from AP

 Wall Street Journal - Afghan Guards Confound U.S. Forces, by Yochi J. Dreazen

 

Region

Pakistan

Long War Journal - Pakistan relaunches Swat operation, by Bill Roggio

Iran

Reuters- Iran tells U.S. to show change in policy, not tactics, by Zahra Hosseinian

Associated Press - Iran wants 'profound changes' in US policy, by Ali Akbar Dareini

New York Times - Iranian Leader Demands U.S. Apology, by Nazila Fathi and Alan Cowell

Christian Science Monitor - Iran's Ahmadinejad to Obama: Say 'sorry', by Matthew Clark

New York Times - Clinton Sees an Opportunity for Iran to Return to Diplomacy, by Mark Landler

Somalia

Washington Post - Islamist Group Takes Over Site of Somali Parliament, from AP

Russia

Voice of America - Russia Denies Missile Suspension

Reuters - Russia offers Obama olive branch on missiles: report, by Christian Love

Sri Lanka

Reuters- Wounded Sri Lankans blocked from leaving war zone, by C. Bryson Hull

Associated Press - Official: 250-300 Civilians Dead in Sri Lanka War

Associated Press - 2 Sri Lankans plead guilty in NY terrorism case, by Tom Hays

U.S. Military

Reuters - U.S. retrieves MP3 player with military files

Washington Times - Obama to meet Joint Chiefs of Staff, by Anne Gearan from AP

Associated Press - Obama to hear advice of service chiefs on Iraq, by Anne Gearan

Defenselink Mil - Gates Cites High Demand for Guard's Domestic Mission, by Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke

Washington Times - Exclusive: Loophole allows terrorist detentions, by Eli Lake

Middle East Diplomacy

Christian Science Monitor - Egypt, Hamas welcome US Middle East envoy, by Ilene R. Prusher

Defenselink Mil - Cooperation is Key to Regional Stability, Mullen Says, by Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden

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