ISW News Roundup - March 12, 2009

Iraq

Associated Press - Iraqi who threw shoes at Bush jailed for 3 years, by Hamza Hendawi

Washington Post - 'No One Values the Victims Anymore', by Anthony Shadid

RFE/RL - Iraq Invited To Join ECO

Washington Post - Iraqi Court Sentences Tariq Aziz and Others in 1992 Merchant Killings, by K.I. Ibrahim

RFE/RL - Iraqi Forces Can Cope After U.S. Withdrawal, Says PM

Department of Defense - U.S. Military Makes Last Payment to 'Sons of Iraq'

Reuters - Qaeda-linked group claims deadly Baghdad bombing

Afghanistan

Washington Post - Afghan Envoy Assails Western Allies as Halfhearted, Defeatist, by Karen DeYoung

Department of Defense - GAO Report Recommends Changes to Afghan Police Program, by Jim Garamone

Department of Defense - Afghan, Coalition Forces Detain 19 Bomb Makers

RFE/RL - Education Cited As Key To Reductions In Afghan TB

New York Times - U.S. Seeks New Afghan Supply Routes, Even in Iran, by Thom Shanker and Elisabeth Bumiller

New York Times - Afghan Court Backs Prison Term for Blasphemy, by Abdul Waheed Wafa and Carlotta Gall

Pakistan

Washington Times - Pakistan protests expose leadership rift, by Nasir Khan

BBC - Pakistanis describe rising tension

BBC - Sharia law begins in Swat valley

Reuters - NATO must deepen engagement with Pakistan: Scheffer

Long War Journal - New Bajaur peace deal identical to failed 2007 agreement, by Bill Roggio

Associated Press - Pakistani police block opposition protest march, by Ashraf Khan

Reuters - Pakistanis protest as government scrambles, by Imtiaz Shah

Long War Journal - Pakistani provincial minister escapes assassination attempt, by Bill Roggio

World

Iran

Reuters - Iran says U.S. failing to correct regional "mistakes", by Zahra Hosseinian and Parisa Hafezi

North Korea

New York Times - N. Korea Warns of Rocket Launch Soon, by Choe Sang-Hun

Israel

New York Times - Israel Stance Was Undoing of Nominee for Intelligence Post, by Mark Mazzetti and Helene Cooper

New York Times - An Israeli Playground, Fortified Against Rockets, by Ethan Bronner

Russia

Washington Times - U.S., Russia face tough discussions on weapons, by Nicholas Kralev

Central Asian Republics

RFE/RL - Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan Ranked As Among World's 'Worst' Societies

NATO

Reuters - France's return to NATO seals deep policy change, by Sophie Hardach

Middle East

Times Online UK - World Agenda: why Syria key to US hopes of unlocking Middle East

Christian Science Monitor - Why Syria and Saudi Arabia are talking again, by Nicholas Blanford