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Summary: U.S./Top News Writing on Huffington Post, Just Foreign Policy notes that Americans told pollsters before the election they expected a Democratic victory to result in withdrawal from Iraq and that the U.S. should set a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. Now Americans may wish to consider a deadline for Congress to establish a timetable for withdrawal; Groundhog Day would give new Members of Congress time to get settled.
Aljazeera.com reprinted Amy Goodman's Democracy Now interview with Global Exchange's Raed Jarrar, currently on the Just Foreign Policy tour. Jarrar noted that the overwhelming majority of Iraqis - like the majority of Americans - want a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.
George McGovern will meet with the Congressional Progressive Caucus next week to recommend a strategy to remove U.S. troops from Iraq by June. If Democrats don't take steps to end the war in Iraq soon, they won't be in power very long, McGovern told reporters. "I think the Democratic leadership is wise enough to know that if they're going to follow the message that election sent, they're going to have to take steps to bring the war to a conclusion," he said.
President Jalal Talabani said Thursday that he had been assured by Democratic congressional leaders during a recent visit to Washington that they had no plans for a quick withdrawal of U.S. forces, AP reports.
AP reported that prospects for extending John Bolton's job as U.N. ambassador died Thursday as Democrats and Senator Chafee said they would continue to oppose the nomination.
Robert Gates, President Bush's choice to become defense secretary, has made it clear that he would seek advice from moderate Republicans who have been largely frozen out of the White House, the New York Times reports.
Concern about leftist victories in Latin America has prompted President Bush to quietly grant a waiver that allows the US to resume training militaries from 11 Latin American and Caribbean countries," USA Today's reports.
In hearings on Robert Gates' nomination as Defense Secretary, senators may revisit allegations that he politicized intelligence on the Soviet Union and falsely denied knowledge of the Iran-contra scandal, the New York Times reports.
With control of every committee in Congress starting in January, the new majority will inherit broad powers to subpoena and investigate, the Los Angeles Times notes. That is expected to translate into wide-ranging and contentious hearings on the Iraq war and other issues.
The Democratic takeover of Congress will raise the profile of lawmakers who have repeatedly urged the Bush administration to talk to key adversaries such as Iran, North Korea and Syria, the Washington Post reports. The incoming chairmen of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House International Relations Committee - Sen. Biden and Rep. Lantos - have long argued that the administration's approach to dealing with adversaries has hamstrung diplomacy.
Iran Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday called U.S. President George W. Bush's defeat in congressional elections a victory for Iran, Reuters reports.
Israel's deputy defense minister suggested Friday that Israel might be forced to launch a military strike against Iran's disputed nuclear program, AP reports. The comments did not necessarily reflect the view of Israel's government, said a government spokeswoman. Prime Minister Olmert, Olmert, expected in Washington Sunday, said he was confident in the U.S. handling of the international standoff over Iran's nuclear program.
Iran will review relations with the IAEA if the Security Council adopts a European draft resolution imposing sanctions, Tehran's nuclear negotiator said Friday. Diplomats have said this would likely entail curbing access of the U.N. watchdog's inspectors to Iranian nuclear sites, but not ending it entirely, as this would harden suspicions and alienate Russia.
Iraq Iraq's health minister estimated Thursday that 150,000 civilians had been killed since the U.S.-led invasion to oust dictator Saddam Hussein in March 2003. This number is three times higher than the Iraq Body Count figure based on Western press reports of civilian casualties.
President Mubarak of Egypt came out strongly against hanging Saddam Hussein, saying in remarks published Thursday that it could make Iraq explode into more violence, AP reports. But Iraq's prime minister said the execution could take place by the end of the year.
Lebanon French officials say that French peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon came within seconds of firing missiles at Israeli F-15 fighter jets that repeatedly dived on their positions last week, the Washington Post reports. The UN and France, which leads the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, have repeatedly protested Israel's flights over the area, saying they are a violation of the ceasefire.
Palestine Hamas committed today to folding its eight-month government if that would restore the international assistance that was cut off after it won national elections earlier this year, the New York Times reports. By distinguishing US and European aid to the Palestinian Authority from Palestinian tax revenues confiscated by the Israeli government, the article improves on past coverage of the issue by the Times.
Contents: http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/newsroom/blog/