ISW News Roundup - December 19, 2008

Iraq Politics and Reconstruction

New York Times - An Inquiry in Baghdad Is Clouded by Politics, by Campbell Robertson and Tareq Maher

LA Times - Iraqi leaders deny coup attempts after arrests of 24 officers, by Ned Parker and Saif Hamid

BBC - Iraq arrests give rise to plot rumours, by Caroline Wyatt

Washington Post - Arrests in Iraq Seen as Politically Motivated, by Sudarsan Raghavan and Qais Mizher

Associated Press - Arrests show fears of Saddam followers, by Robert H. Reid

Associated Press - Iraq seeks renewed UN protection for its assets, by Edith M. Lederer

Washington Post - FBI Managers Encouraged Workers in Iraq to Bill for Time Off, by Spencer S. Hsu

 

Iraq Security

CNN - Covering Iraq is deadliest job for reporters, again

CNN - Women's rights activist beheaded in Iraq

Associated Press - Iraqi official: Leader of women's group killed, by Yahya Barzanji

Reuters - Last South Korean troops sent to Iraq return home

Reuters - FACTBOX: Security developments in Iraq, Dec 18

Long War Journal - Questions remain on the development of the Iraqi Security Forces, by DJ Elliott

Associated Press - Iraqi judge says shoe-tossing reporter was beaten, by Qassim Abdul-Zahra

Reuters - Iraq preachers demand release of Bush shoe attacker, by Walid Ibrahim

LA Times - Troop withdrawal plan diverges with Obama's, by Julian Barnes

Associated Press - Top US general in Iraq gives first  view of pullout, by Anne Gearan

Reuters - Obama briefed on military's Iraq plans, by Andrew Gray

Defenselink Mil - Gates Urges Direct Dialogue With President-elect on Iraq, by John J. Kruzel

 

Region

Afghanistan

Christian Science Monitor - Afghanistan: Soviet failures echo for US, by Mark Sappenfield

New York Times - Tensions Rise as Afghans Say U.S. Raid Killed Civilians, by Adam B. Ellick

Washington Post - Despite Concerns, Pentagon Seeks Civilian Firm to Oversee Contractors, by Walter Pincus

CNN - Bad weather thwarts Pakistan leader's Afghan trip

Pakistan

Washington Post - NATO Materiel Threatened in Pakistan, Candace Rondeaux Walter Pincus

Long War Journal - Omar Saeed Sheikh plots assassination from Pakistani jail, by Bill Roggio

Israel

Reuters - Gaza quiet after ceasefire with Israel ended, by Nidal al-Mughrabi

CNN - Rockets fired from Gaza as fragile ceasefire ends

Christian Science Monitor - Israelis, Gazans brace for cease-fire's end, by Ilene R. Prusher

Iran

LA Times - Iran mulls financial bailout as stock market falls, by Borzou Daragahi and Ramin Mostaghim

Washington Times - EXCLUSIVE: Obama to create Iran outreach post, by Eli Lake

 

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