Global News Alert - December 11, 2009

December 10, 2009 Global News Alert                 December 14, 2009 Global News Alert

Afghanistan

VOA News - US Officials Pressed on Afghan Government Capabilities, Efforts Against al-Qaida, by Dan Robinson

Department of Defense - McChrystal Concludes Hearings on Afghanistan, by John Kruzel

Department of Defense - Obama Promises Conditions-based Afghanistan Transition, by Gerry Gilmore

Wall Street Journal - West Urges Afghanistan to Delay Election, by Yaroslav Trofimov

Department of Defense - Surge Will Provide All Forces Needed, Mullen Says, by Jim Garamone

VOA News - US Military: Afghan Surge Begins Next Week, by Meredith Buel

RFE/RL - 16,000 U.S. Troops Receive Afghan Orders

Associated Press - US Marines Train Illiterate Farmers to be Police, by Sebastian Abbot

Wall Street Journal - U.N.'s Afghan Chief to Step Down, by Yaroslav Trofimov

Reuters - U.S. Seeks Afghan Envoy to Help Civilian Surge, by Louis Charbon

Times Online - US to Use Missile-Firing Drones to Supply Troops in Afghanistan, by Tim Reid

New York Times (Opinion) - A Deadline We Can Believe In?, by Ahmed Rashid, Marc Lynch and Nathaniel Fick

Pakistan

Associated Press - Detained Americans in Pakistan Facing Deportation

LA Times - Pakistan Says Arrested American Men Hoped to Join Militants, by Sebastian Rotella and Alex Rodriguez

Christian Science Monitor - Five Americans Arrested in Pakistan Were Planning 'Big Attack,' by Saeed Shah and Jonathan Landay

Iraq

Washington Post - Maliki, Lawmakers, Trade Accusations, by Ernesto Londono and Glenn Kessler

New York Times - Blackwater Guards Tied to Secret Raids by the C.I.A., by James Risen and Mark Mazzetti

Washington Post - Blackwater Tied to Clandestine CIA Raids, by Jeffrey Smith and Joby Warrick

New York Times - Beleaguered Iraqi Leader Puts Off Gates Meeting, by Elisabeth Bumiller and Marc Santora

BBC News - Iraq Oil Development Rights Contracts Awarded

Wall Street Journal - Iraqi Oil Minister: No Company Bids for East Baghdad Oil Field

World

Iran

Reuters - Gates, EU Leaders Say Iran to Face New Sanctions, by Adam Entous

Washington Post - U.N. Panel Cites Concern About Iran Shipments, by Colum Lynch

New York Times - In Iran, Protests Gaining a Radical Tinge, by Robert F. Worth

RFE/RL - The Apocalypse, Messianism Define Ahmadinejad's Policies, by Abbas Djavadi

Yemen

VOA News - Iran Warns Against 'Interference' in Yemen's Affairs

North Korea

Reuters - North Korea Hints Ready to Return to Nuclear Talks - by Jack Kim

Washington Post -U.S. Envoy's North Korea Trip Brings no Commitment on Nuclear Talks, by Blaine Harden

Philippines

Wall Street Journal - Philippines Leader Pressed to Pacify South, by James Hookway