Global News Alert - November 18, 2009

November 17, 2009 News Alert                                      November 19, 2009 News Alert

Afghanistan

Reuters - Obama Vows Afghan Exit; Battered Karzai to Take Oath, by Peter Graff

New York Times - Obama Says He Is Close to Afghan War Decision, by Helene Cooper

Associated Press - Obama: Aim Is to Put US on Path to End Afghan War

VOA News - Obama: US Presenting Benchmarks for Afghan Government

RFE/RL - Karzai Inauguration Brings Anticipation of Change, by Abubakar Siddique

Washington Post - Poll Finds Guarded Optimism on Obama's Afghanistan Plan, by Jon Cohen and Jennifer Agiesta

BBC News - Soviet Lessons From Afghanistan, by Andrew North

Associated Press - Afghans on Hold, Awaiting Karzai, Obama Decisions, by Deb Riechmann

Reuters - Afghans See no Change to Life of Hardship, Fear, by Hamid Shalizi

Associated Press - Clinton Arrives in Kabul for Karzai Inaguration

Washington Times - Clinton in Afghanistan to Prod Karzai, by Nicholas Kralev

Reuters - U.S. Wants Karzai to Use Speech for Concrete Steps, by Sue Pleming

Washington Post - Afghan Minister Accused of Taking Bribe, by Joshua Partlow

LA Times - Ridding Afghanistan of Corruption Will Be No Easy Task, by Alexandra Zavis

Christian Science Monitor - Taliban Biker Militia: Anatomy of a Failed Afghanistan Ambush, by Jay Price

Times Online - Taleban Fighters Must Be Offered a Route to Peace, Says Miliband, by Philip Webster

Associated Press - Source: Germany to Extend Afghanistan Mission, by Thomas Rietig

New York Times - Germany Approves Extension for Afghan Mission, by Judy Dempsey

Department of Defense - NATO Chief Predicts 'Substantially More Troop' in Afghanistan, by John Kruzel

Pakistan

Wall Street Journal - Prolonged Struggles Loom in Pakistani Battle Zone, by Zahid Hussain

New York Times - Pakistani Successes May Sway U.S. Troop Decision, by Scott Tavernise and Eric Schmitt

Washinton Times - Afghan, Pakistan Taliban Diverge on Goals, by Raza Khan

Times Online - Pakistan Army Success in South Waziristan Leaves Trail of Ghost Towns, by Zahid Hussain

Iraq

RFE/RL - Iraqi Vice President Vetoes Election Law Over Expatriate Seats

New York Times - Veto of Iraq's Election Law Could Force Delay in Vote, by Rod Norland

Associated Press - Iraq's Sunni VP Vetoes Parts of Election Law, by Qassim Abdul-Zahra

Reuters - Iraq's Electoral Body Halts Poll Preparations

New York Times - Kurdish Legislators Threaten Boycott of Iraq Election, by Marc Santora

Christian Science Monitor - Abu Gharib Attack Raises Fears of Resurgent al-Qaeda in Iraq, by Jane Arraf

BBC News - All Quiet on Iraq's Western Front, by Jim Muir

World

Iran

BBC News - Iran Plays Down UN Nuclear Report

Wall Street Journal - Iran Sentances 5 to Death in Postelection Turmoil, by Nasser Karimi

Yemen

Reuters - Yemen Says Has Killed Two Rebel Leaders in Clash

Somalia

Associated Press - Pirates Again Attack US-Flagged Maersk Alabama, by Jason Straziuso