ISW News Roundup - August 19, 2009

August 18, 2009 Roundup                                                        August 20, 2009 Roundup

Iraq

New York Times - At Least 75 Killed in Series of Attacks in Baghdad, by Sam Dagher

Washington Post - Dozens Killed, Hundreds Injured in Baghdad Blasts, by Ernesto Londono

New York Times - Iranian Arms Seized in Iraq, Officials Say, by Sam Dagher

LA Times - U.S. offered assurances about Iranian exiles days before Iraqi raid

Afghanistan

Washington Post - 10 Killed, 55 Injured By Bomb Near Kabul, by Joshua Partlow

New York Times - Gunmen Fight Police at Bank in Kabul, by Abdul Waheed Wafa

Wall Street Journal - Violence Surges Ahead of Afghan Election, by Anand Gopal

Department of Defense - Afghan Forces Lead Election Security Efforts, by Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden

Washington Post - Taliban Gunmen Killed in Kabul on Eve of Vote, by Joshua Partlow and Javed Hamdard

Wall Street Journal - Photo Slideshow: Taliban Besiege Kabul

Reuters - Q+A: What are the stakes for U.S. in Afghanistan vote?  by Paul Eckert

LA Times - Just before Afghans vote, a rush to prepare vs. a rush to impair, by Laura King

Voice of America - Afghanistan Tries to Assure Voters About Adequate Security on Election Day, by Steve Herman

New York Times - Afghan Long Shots Seek Presidency, or Another Job, by Carlotta Gall

Christian Science Monitor - Afghan women on the campaign trail, by Ben Arnoldy

Washington Post - 'We Don't Have Any Alternative to Karzai', by Joshua Partlow

Reuters - TIMELINE: Violent road to Afghanistan election

Wall Street Journal - State of the Nation: Key Indicators for Afghanistan

Pakistan

RFE/RL - U.S. General In Pakistan For Talks On Equipment

Associated Press - Pakistan nabs Taliban's top spokesman, leader's aide, by Chris Brummitt

LA Times - New confirmation of Taliban leader's death in Pakistan, by Alex Rodriguez and Zulfiqar Ali

LA Times - U.S. envoy has 'useful dialogue' with anti-American Pakistani leader, by Paul Richter

RFE/RL - U.S. Reaches Out To Islamist Parties in Pakistan

Region

Israel/Gaza

Washington Post - Netanyahu's Defiance of U.S. Resonates at Home, by Howard Schneider

Reuters - Gaza radicals say will resist Hamas crackdown, by Nidal al-Mughrabi

Iran

Associated Press - Peres: Russia to Rethink Sale of Missiles to Iran

Washington Post - Iranian Cleric Predicts Opposition Will Topple Ahmadinejad, by Thomas Erdbrink

Reuters - Ahmadinejad may face tough fight over oil minister, by Reza Derakhshi and Zahra Hosseinian