Summary: U.S./Top News North Korea agreed today to return to the stalled six-nation talks on its nuclear weapons programs, the New York Times reports. The development raised hopes for easing of tensions created by North Korea's recent nuclear test.
More American military officers are warming to the idea of setting a deadline for US troop reductions in Iraq, the Los Angeles Times reports.
U.S. forces quickly complied with Prime Minister al-Maliki order lifting checkpoints around Sadr City, AP reports, calling the order another move to assert his authority with the Americans.
Of more than 500,000 weapons turned over to the Iraqi Ministries of Defense and Interior since the American invasion the serial numbers of only 12,128 were properly recorded, notes the New York Times in an editorial. Some 370,000 of these weapons, some of which are undoubtedly being used to kill American troops, were paid for by US taxpayers.
The US upset the regional balance in the Middle East when it invaded Iraq, writes retired general William Odom in the Los Angeles Times. Restoring it requires bold initiatives, but "cutting and running" must precede them all. Odom places particular emphasis on the need to cooperate with Iran, suggesting the U.S. should end its confrontation with Iran over Iran's nuclear program.
Iran Iran has yet to satisfy the IAEA its nuclear program seeks only to produce electric power and not bombs, the head of the U.N. nuclear agency told the General Assembly on Monday. But Mohamed ElBaradei said he remained hopeful Iran would enter negotiations aimed at addressing concerns about Iran's aims and Iran's concerns about its security. Iran's representative told the assembly that Iran was ready for negotiations without conditions, Reuters reports.
China on Tuesday criticized a U.S. Congressional commissioin that had attacked its relationship with Iran. The Commission, which tends to reflect concerns from U.S. conservative political circles about China's rise, accused Beijing of failing "to meet the threshold test of international responsibility" by aiding Iran's nuclear program, Reuters reports.
Iraq Federal auditors say the Iraqi government is spending little of its own money on reconstruction projects, while the process for handing off U.S.-funded work "appears to have broken down," the Washington Post reports.
Israel A far-right party opposed to relinquishing occupied land joined Israeli Prime Minister Olmert's governing coalition Monday. All but one cabinet member voted in favor of Yisrael Beitenu's entry, Reuters reports. The lone dissenter, Labor's Ofir Pines-Paz, announced his resignation from the cabinet and said he would stand for the leadership of Labor next year. "I cannot give up my conscience," he said.
Prime Minister Olmert said Monday that the Israeli military might expand operations in the Gaza Strip, the New York Times reports.
Egypt The nephew of former President Sadat was sentenced to a year in prison Tuesday for defaming Egypt's armed forces, AP reports. Sadat is the second prominent political opponent of the government to be sentenced to prison within 12 months.
Pakistan More than 15,000 armed tribesmen protested a Pakistan Army helicopter attack on an Islamic school carried out in cooperation with the U.S., Reuters reports.
Mexico As federal riot police hunkered down in Oaxaca Monday, protestors continued to communicate with their supporters by radio, the New York Times reports. Meanwhile, Oaxaca's governor refused to resign, even as both houses of Congress passed resolutions urging him to step down for the good of the nation.
In Washington, the State Department's Sean McCormack said Washington would not press Mexico to investigate the shooting death in Oaxaca Friday of U.S. citizen Brad Will, Democracy Now reports. Mexican reports have suggested the killers were linked to the local government.
Contents: http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/newsroom/blog/