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