Summary: U.S. Federal authorities have prevented two relatives of a father and son convicted recently in a terrorism-related case from returning home to California from Pakistan unless they agree to be interviewed by the F.B.I. The two men are U.S. citizens. "If the government had evidence instead of innuendo," their ACLU attorney said, "then they would be charged with a crime instead of being held hostage in a foreign land." Iran An investigation into a Japanese manufacturer suspected of exporting sophisticated measuring devices to Libya's former atomic weapons program has increasingly focused on whether the company also sold similar equipment to Iran, a Japanese government official said Monday. Iraq A group of Iraqi soldiers recently refused to go to Baghdad to help restore order there, a senior American military officer said Monday. The new Iraqi government wants to build a national military, one that is ethnically diverse and can be deployed anywhere in Iraq. But many Iraqis are reluctant to serve far from their home provinces. Turkey is marshaling forces along its border with Iraq as diplomatic efforts have done little to curb a separatist Kurdish group using bases in Iraq to launch attacks against Turkish forces.The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has also been accused of being behind several bombings throughout Turkey. Lebanon U.N. Secretary General Annan urged Lebanese leaders Monday to work for the swift release of two Israeli soldiers, saying their return was imperative to stabilize the cease-fire. Annan said he was working to persuade Israel to lift the air and sea blockade of Lebanon and complete a military withdrawal from the southern border zone. But he said Lebanon had its own obligations under the Security Council cease-fire resolution. He faulted Israel and Hezbollah for not adhering to key provisions, and warned fighting could resume if the parties did not abide by the full resolution. Prime Minister Siniora said Monday that Lebanon could control its border with Syria without the assistance of international troops and had already confiscated illegal arms in the south. Israel Prime Minister Olmert announced Monday the formation of two government committees to investigate the handling of Israel's military campaign in Lebanon after ruling out a review by an independent state commission. Some Israelis have called for a "commission of inquiry" to investigate the government's war management. Such commissions have subpoena powers and their final recommendations are binding. The most likely candidates to head a state commission would be senior justices of Israel's high court, who Olmert's advisers reportedly fear would recommend his removal from office. Palestine A well-known Hamas official has deplored the collapse of Gazan life into chaos and has said that much of the blame belongs to Palestinians themselves. He said various armed groups in the Gaza Strip were responsible for the chaos. He also questioned the utility of firing rockets into Israel that cause few casualties but result in many Palestinian deaths when the Israelis retaliate. He seemed to be arguing for other armed groups to follow the Hamas decision to halt rocket fire into Israel. Syria An Islamic revival for women in Syria could add up to a potent challenge to this determinedly secular state, the New York Times reports. Syria is becoming increasingly religious and its national identity is weakening. If Islam replaces that identity, it may undermine the unity of a society that is ruled by a religious minority and includes many religious groups. Mexico Felipe Calderón seemed assured of being designated president of Mexico next week after the country's highest electoral tribunal on Monday threw out legal challenges from his opponent. Bolivia President Morales on Monday replaced the head of Bolivia's state oil company YPFB, who had faced accusations of corruption months after he was appointed to the post. Venezuela The U.S. government is spending millions of dollars in the name of democracy in Venezuela. But the money is raising deep suspicions among supporters of President Chavez, in part because the U.S. has refused to name many of the groups it's supporting. Details of the spending emerge in 1,600 pages of grant contracts obtained by The Associated Press through a Freedom of Information Act request.
In this issue: U.S. 1) U.S. Blocks Men's Return to California From Pakistan Iran 2) Japanese Company Suspected of Selling Nuclear Equipment to Iran Iraq 3) Iraqi Soldiers Refuse to Go to Baghdad, Defying Order 4) Turkey sharpens response to upsurge in Kurd violence Lebanon 5) Annan Visits Peacekeepers on Middle East Tour 6) Lebanon Insists It Can Control the Syrian Border 7) Annan Urges Blockade Lift, Captives' Release Israel 8) Olmert Orders Limited War Probe 9) America's Rottweiler Palestine 10) Hamas Spokesman Blames Palestinians for Gaza Chaos Syria 11) Islamic Revival Led by Women Tests Syria's Secularism Mexico 12) Court Rejects Challenges to Mexico Presidential Vote Bolivia 13) Bolivia's Morales Replaces Head of State Oil Firm Venezuela 14) U.S. Aid Stirs Venezuela's Suspicion
Read on the web: http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/newsroom/index.html (includes links) Receive by email (includes links if your email reader handes them): http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/justforeignpolicy.org/signUp.jsp?key=1271
-------- Robert Naiman Just Foreign Policy www.justforeignpolicy.org