Month: March 2011 Page 1 of 5

Here is your R&D for March 30th:

Reforming Pakistan’s Electoral System from the International Crisis Group
The latest International Crisis group report reflects on Pakistan’s political system, which the organization argues needs reform because it has contributed to political instability and created a breakdown of the rule of law.  Don’t forget to print the summary and the full .pdf report.

Housing market: 13% of all U.S. homes are vacant from CNN
According to a recent report from the census, thirteen percent of homes nationwide are vacant.  Critics points out, though, that smmer homes and second homes are also included in the vacancy statistic.

Arizona outlaws abortions based on race, sex from the Arizona Republic
Arizona became the first U.S. state to ban race and sex-selection abortions yesterday.  Under the law that Governor Jan Brwer signed, it is a felony for a doctor to perform an abortion that is based on the sex or race of a fetus.

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Here is your R&D for March 29th:

Egypt is still Mubarakstan from the Guardian
Although Egyptians succeeded in ousting President Hosni Mubarak, they are now realizing that corruption extends well below him within the Egyptian government.

Campaign Law Has Doubters on Court from the Wall Street Journal
The Supreme Court has returned to the arena of campaign finance reform as it is looking at the constitutionality of an Arizona campaign-finance system that allows a candidate to get public subsidies for their campaign if they agree to not take contributions from businesses, unions, or political parties.

Arriving as Pregnant Tourists, Leaving With American Babies from the New York Times
The rise in “maternity tourism” where pregnant women arrive in the United States and give birth to their children has raised the ire of some American policymakers, who argue that it is taking advantage of birthright citizenship and could hurt education and economic opportunities for resident American children.

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Here is your R&D for March 28th:

How Libya’s Qaddafi brought humanitarian intervention back in vogue from the Christian Science Monitor
Libya’s Moammar Gaddafi has resurrected the international doctrine of the “right to protect”, which some analysts thought was a dead idea dating back to international inaction on Darfur.

Water Issues Worry Americans Most, Global Warming Least from Gallup
A recent Gallup poll shows that Americans environmental concerns have remained static since last year.  Worries about water contamination rate the highest in Gallup’s latest poll about environmental problems facing the United States.

The Libyan Job from Slate
Slate Magazine doesn’t pull any punches in this article, when it makes the case that America is sending its military forces into Libya to defend French interests.

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Here is your R&D for March 25th:

Yemeni Military Leader Tied to Terrorism Pledges to Protect Protesters from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
The situation in Yemen could go very badly for the United States, with the defection of General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar being seen as a significant blow to the Yemeni government.  General al-Ahmar has ties to militant organizations and if he were to take power it could threaten U.S. interests in the region.

Romney Hits Road to Target Big Contributors from the Wall Street Journal
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has launched a 15-city push to secure big financial commitments for his 2012 presidential run.  Romney’s rumored strategy is to secure sizeable funds to knockout his primary opponents early.

Allies Are Split on Goal and Exit Strategy in Libya from the New York Times
Although coalition forces have prevented Moammar Gaddafi from routing rebel forces, they are not sure whether the ultimate goal should be the protection of civilians or the removal of the Gaddafi regime.

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Here is your R&D for March 24th:

The Arab Powder Keg from Slate
This is a link to an animated map from Slate Magazine, which diagrams the spread of unrest across the North Africa and Middle East since December.

‘Gadhafi Is Facing a Coalition of the Unwilling’ from Der Spiegel
In a critical piece about coalition efforts against the Libyan government, Der Spiegel describes how bickering among coalition partners has created a “coalition of the unwilling” and that the bickering may end up strengthening the Gaddafi regime.  The article also has a timeline for Colonel Moammar Gaddafi’s forty years of rule.

Portugal’s crisis gatecrashes Euro summit from the Agence France Presse
Portugal moved closer to becoming the next European country in need of a bailout as its parliament rejected an austerity package yesterday.  Portugal’s crisis may throw the EU’s latest financial summit into disarray and create political problems in countries like Germany whose citizens oppose bailouts to fiscally irresponsible EU member states.

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