ISW News Roundup - February 4, 2009
Iraq's Provincial Elections
New York Times - As Iraqis Tally Votes, Former Leader Re-emerges, by Alissa J. Rubin and Steven Lee Myers
Christian Science Monitor - Sunni party's rise in Iraq signals new nationalist current, by Jane Arraf
Washington Post - Iraq Probes Possible Voter Fraud, by Ernesto Londono
Aswat al-Iraq - 3 lawmakers nominated to head parliament
Reuters - Iraq investigating serious vote fraud allegations, by Ahmed Rasheed
Aswat al-Iraq - Al-Maliki ready to form alliances in provincial councils
Aswat al-Iraq - Elections strengthen secular moderates, will Obama support them?
Associated Press - Analysis: Iraq still faces hurdles after election, by Robert H. Reid
Iraq Security
Aswat al-Iraq - Police receive Baladruz security file
Aswat al-Iraq - IED injures 6 Sahwa fighters in Diala
Associated Press - Polling group censures Iraq death toll researcher, by Matthew Lee
Associated Press - US cmdr: Iran still supporting extremists in Iraq
Associated Press - US: Bombers arrested in lead up to election, by Chelsea J. Carter
Associated Press - US: 50 detainees released a day in Iraq
Associated Press - Some attacks by female suicide bombers in Iraq
Afghanistan and Pakistan
Washington Post - Obama Seeks Narrower Focus in Afghan War, by Karen DeYoung
Reuters - Afghanistan says foreign fighters coming from Iraq, by Sayed Salahuddin
Defenselink Mil - More U.S. Troops Needed in Afghanistan to Set 'Baseline of Security', by Gerry J. Gilmore
The Times UK - British colonel 'passed Afghan casualty secrets to female friend', by Philippe Naughton
Washington Post - U.S. to emphasize security goals in Afghanistan, by David Morgan of Reuters
Associated Press - US plan to arm militias scares some in Afghanistan, by Kathy Gannon
Reuters - Afghan president hits out at NATO and U.S. allies, by Golnar Motevalli
Washington Times - U.N. chief visits Afghanistan, by Fisnik Abrashi of AP
Wall Street Journal - Plans Emerge for New Troop Deployments to Afghanistan, by Chip Cummins, Roshanak Taghavi, and Jay Solomon
Washington Post - Taliban Destroys a Key Bridge in Pakistan, by Candace Rondeaux
BBC - Banned Pakistan militants gather
Associated Press - Pakistan: Trucks torched along US supply line, by Riaz Khan
Washington Times - U.S. supply routes squeezed two ways, from AP
Christian Science Monitor - With attacks on Afghan supply lines in Pakistan, US turns to Uzbekistan, by C. Collins
Reuters - Taliban kidnap 29 Pakistani police and soldiers, by Junaid Khan
Long War Journal - Pakistan-based terror groups behind Kabul suicide bombing cell, by Bill Roggio
Israel-Hamas Conflict
Washington Post - Abbas government announces $600 million Gaza aid project, by Ali Sawafta
Reuters - Israeli planes hit Gaza after rocket fire, by Nidal al-Mughrabi
Christian Science Monitor - War crimes accusations rattle Israel, by Joshua Mitnick
Associated Press - Rights groups says laws of war violated in Gaza, by Ben Hubbard and Alfred de Montesquiou
New York Times - In Shattered Gaza Town, Roots of Seething Split, by Ethan Bronner and Sabrina Tavernise
Reuters- U.N. agency says Hamas seized Gaza aid, by Nidal al-Mughrabi
BBC - Hamas police 'seized Gazan aid'
Reuters - Time running out for attack on Iran: Israeli expert, by Dan Williams
Region
Kyrgystan
Washington Post - Kyrgyzstan Threatens to Close U.S. Base, by Philip P. Pan
New York Times - Dispute Mounts Over Kyrgyz Base, by Ellen Barry and Michael Schwirtz
Reuters - Kyrgyzstan starts moves to close U.S. airbase, by Olga Dzyubenko
Iran
Washington Post - Iran Reports Launching Its Own Satellite, by Thomas Erdbrink and Joby Warrick
New York Times - On Iran, Obama Plans Talk and Some Toughness, by Helene Cooper and Mark Landler
Washington Post - Clinton Warns Iran to Comply With Mandates, by Glenn Kessler
Al-Qaeda
Reuters - Qaeda's Zawahri dismisses Obama, says U.S. still enemy
Saudi Arabia
Long War Journal - Saudi Arabia's most-wanted, by Thomas Joscelyn