Month: August 2010 Page 1 of 4

Here is your R&D for August 31st:

Australia PM Rejects Fresh Election Call from the Wall Street Journal
Despite Australia’s crazy election result, Prime Minister Julia Gillard refuses to call for a new election.  The alternative, a gridlocked parliament, could leave major national policy issues from taxes to a national Internet overhaul in limbo.

Obama speech on Iraq has risks from the Washington Post
Tonight, President Obama will address the nation about the end of America’s combat mission in Iraq.  However, the security situation there might make this speech a political liability in the coming months.

Review Finds Flaws in U.N. Climate Panel Structure from the New York Times
Critics of climate change have used problems with the UN’s climate panel as evidence for their argument that the impacts of climate change are overstated.  An independent review has recommended that the UN change the way it handles its climate change assessments.

UN says Lebanon caused deadly border clash from Reuters
The UN has weighed in on a deadly border clash between Israeli and Lebanese troops on August 3rd.  The UN has concluded that Lebanon’s army caused the clash, which violates the terms of the peace agreement that ended the 2006 war between both nations.

The Folly of Holding Afghan Elections from the Council on Foreign Relations
Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections are scheduled for next month, but will they be legitimate and should they be held in the first place?  These are the questions that South Asia Senior Analyst Candace Rondeaux answers in this interview.

Here is your R&D for August 30th:

Record number in government anti-poverty programs from USA Today
Usually, I’m not a big fan of USA Today, but I couldn’t help but notice this article concerning the impact of the recession on working Americans.  This is a good article when trying to understand the personal impacts of an economic downturn.

In Israel, Settling for Less from the New York Times
One of the issues extempers ignore when discussing the Middle East peace process is what the state of Israel would look like with or without a peace settlement.  This New York Times op-ed piece, Gadi Taub, an assistant professor of communications and public policy at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, speaks of the need for a peace settlement so that Israel does not have to make tough decisions about its growing Arab population.

Teachers blast L.A. Times for releasing teacher effectiveness rankings from the Los Angeles Times
In the latest fight over education reform and accountability, national teacher unions have blasted the Los Angeles Times for publishing reports on the effectiveness of elementary school teachers in the city.  Unions say the measurements are flawed while reform advocates say that transparency will lead to a better education system.

CIA paying numerous Afghan officials, report says from the Christian Science Monitor
Recent reports indicate that members of the Afghan government are on the CIA’s payroll, worrying some experts who believe that the payments are only undermining America’s efforts to crack down on corruption.  Experts also worry that it means more CIA control over the Afghan war.

Has Zuma played his last cards? from the BBC
South African President Jacob Zuma is locked in a vicious battle with public sector workers, which could undermine his re-election hopes.  Find out why continuing public sector strikes are causing South African political writers to write Zuma’s political obituary.

Here is your R&D for August 27th:

Wyclef Jean’s disqualification leaves Haiti in political uncertainty from the Los Angeles Times
After being deemed ineligible by the Haitian electoral council, hip hop star Wyclef Jean’s presidential bid appeared lost.  However, he has alleged that the council is not impartial and it has thrown Haiti into an uproar.

Democrats privately fear House prospects worsening from Politico
Are Democrats conceding the House of Representatives?  Some close races in conservative districts show that Democrats are moving away from their party’s leadership.  However, Democrats remain better financed than their GOP counterparts and that may make a difference this fall.

In South Africa, ANC Youth League bouncers send local journalists scurrying from the Christian Science Monitor
As pressure upon the governing African National Congress (ANC) increases from opposition groups, the South African government has become more hostile towards the free press.  A great article about South Africa’s latest anti-press incident.

Americans Oppose Renewing U.S. Combat Operations in Iraq from Gallup
Even if the situation gets worse in Iraq, Americans do not favor renewing combat operations there.  This is a boon to President Obama, who plans to take credit for the withdrawal of U.S. forces.

Aggression in the Court from Foreign Affairs Online
Is the International Criminal Court (ICC) the best place to try national leaders for war crimes?  This is the question that this article seeks to answer.

Here is your R&D for August 26th:

What I learned from Jared Diamond from Foreign Policy
Jared Diamond’s recent book Collapse:  How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed describes why certain societies prosper and others decline based on a myriad of political, social, and economic factors.  In this article, the author applies Diamond’s work to the United States and lays out five reasons that the United States is in danger of collapsing.

Human Rights Kowtow from the Wall Street Journal
In this critical op-ed, the Wall Street Journal bashes President Obama’s recent Universal Periodic Review report to the United Nations.  Since criticism of this report is circulating in the news, this is a quick summary of what critics of the President are saying.

Japan DPJ powerbroker to bid for PM in party vote from Reuters
Major Japanese political player Ichiro Ozawa has announced that he will challenge sitting Prime Minister Naoto Kan for the leadership of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) next month.  Ozawa’s job is on the line because the DPJ lost its majority in Japan’s upper house last month.  An Ozawa-Kan contest runs the risk of splitting the DPJ.

Housing Clouds Economic Recovery from the Council on Foreign Relations
In a useful economic briefing, the Council on Foreign Relations summarizes the problems of America’s housing market and how they are weighing down the economy.

Kenya:  Police Ordered to Learn Bill of Rights from the Daily Nation (courtesy of AllAfrica)
Kenya formally declares its new constitution tomorrow and in anticipation of this monumental change, the nation’s police has been informed that officers need to understand the Bill of Rights.  This articles offers a quick summary of how police will need to change their practices because of the new constitution.

Here is your R&D for August 25th:

Russia admits crop loss of 38%; self sufficient in 2010 but no reserves for 2011 from MercoPress
Russia’s drought has caused the world’s third largest wheat exporter to drain its reserves.  A great impact article for the recent environmental disasters plaguing Russia.

Worries about US recovery deepen from the Financial Times
Analysts are worried about the state of America’s economy.  This article breaks down those anxieties and how Asia and Europe are coping with the global economic downturn.

What Scott Brown’s Win Tells Us About November from Real Clear Politics
In this interesting piece, Sean Trende uses the methodology he used to forecast Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts and boldly predicts that the GOP could pick up 12 Senate seats this fall if the qualities of the candidates are not weighed against each other.

Is a Mosque Near Ground Zero A Bad Idea? from the Council on Foreign Relations
Need a diverse set of opinions about the mosque at Ground Zero?  This CFR piece brings five “experts” on the issue together in a lively discussion of the project and its foreign policy implications.

Carter linked to Pyongyang mission from the Asia Times
Former President Jimmy Carter is traveling to North Korea in order to retrieve Aijalon Mahli Gomes, who has been imprisoned there since January.  The impact of Carter’s visit and what North Korea might gain from it are discussed in this article.

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Here is your R&D for August 24th:

Poll numbers in 1994, a bad year for Democrats, don’t bode well for them in 2010 from the Washington Post
Some political commentators have speculated that 2010 could be 1994 all over again for Democrats.  Find out information about 1994 polling patterns and how it ties to the elections this fall.

US rebuffs ‘freeze’ precondition from the Jerusalem Post
The building of Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory is a huge roadblock in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.  However, the U.S. has said that an Israeli settlement freeze will not be a precondition prior to a Middle East peace summit in September.

Cuccinelli: Virginia has right to regulate abortion clinics from the Washington Times
Abortion remains the most divisive cultural issue in American politics.  Just when the issue appeared to be dying down, Virginia’s attorney general has reinvigorated the debate by claiming the state can regulate abortion clinics just as it does hospitals.

German Government Pulls a Bait-and-Switch on Taxes from Der Spiegel
Although the German government came into office promising tax cuts, its drive to reduce the budget deficit might lead to higher taxes on German workers instead.

Mission Assassination in Afghanistan from the Asia Times
The U.S. military has hit squads to target al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders in Afghanistan.  Find out why these hit squads are a bad idea.

Here is your R&D for August 23rd:

New York mosque controversy worries Muslims overseas from the Los Angeles Times
The controversy over the mosque near Ground Zero has antagonized Muslims globally and could complicate U.S. outreach to Muslim nations.

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks: Why are they resuming now? from the Christian Science Monitor
In early September, the United States will host a Middle East peace summit.  The goal for the summit is paving the way for a Palestinian state.  This article provides a good overview of the planned peace talks.

As Mission Shifts in Iraq, Risks Linger for Obama from the New York Times
President Obama wants to remind voters before the midterm elections that he got troops out of Iraq.  However, as the drawdown continues the situation in Iraq could become more unstable and undermine Obama’s political position.

Australian stock market shaky after inconclusive poll from the BBC
The Australian parliamentary elections were inconclusive and the nation’s stock market is taking a beating because of it.  Find out why and what happens next Down Under in this article.

Contest of the century from the Economist
India and China are two of the world’s emerging superpowers but they don’t get along.  Find out what the future of Chinese-Indian relations hold in this piece.