[posted 7/4/08]
Religious leaders voluntarily back away as Iraqi government moves to separate mosque and state in provincial elections:
- Iraq Seeks Ban on Religious Imagery in Elections (Los Angeles Times)
Government investigates alleged army takeover plot by ultra-nationalist group of former military officers:
- Turkish General calls for Calm (The National)
Government-appointed religious official in Saudi Arabia counters militant ideology following the discovery of plots against oil and security stations:
- Saudi Cleric Warns Saudis to Shun Militants (Reuters/Wiredispatch)
Nigerian woman voluntarily confesses to singing traditional music is sentenced to two months in prison or a $42 fine:
- Sharia Court Jails Female Singer for Staging Musical Concert (Daily Trust/All Africa)
Plans to phase out Guantanamo include returning suspected terrorists to their countries of origin for detainment:
- Debate Over Guantanamo’s Fate Intensifies (Washington Post)
With a history of refusing to halt uranium enrichment, Iran will answer today to an incentives offer:
- Iran Nuclear Deal Response Expected (New York Times)
Police raids result in the capturing of nine involved in network responsible for massive attacks in Southeast Asia:
- South Sumatra Terrorist Suspects Linked to Noordin (The Jakarta Post)
Continued violence and declining security strain Afghanistan’s food-producing areas:
- U.N. Warns of Food and Security Crises in Afghanistan (New York Times)
[posted 7/3/08]
Even though
Afghanistan was the first front in the war on terrorism, military
experts want Iraq to be secure before the planned increase of troops …
- A Shortage Of Troops in Afghanistan (Washington Post)
…Meanwhile, soldiers in Iraq feel their work has brought a lull in violence, but doubt the calm is sustainable:
- A ‘Surge’ Unit Sees Change, But Questions Its Permanence (Christian Science Monitor)
Local media and politicians condemn the new Pakistani government’s operations in Taliban regions that worry US forces in Afghanistan:
- Offensive in Tribal Area Criticized by Key Pakistani Politicians (Washington Post)
”This is a very unstable part of the world and I don’t need it to be more unstable,” says Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff regarding a potential US-Israeli strike:
- US Admiral Urges Caution on Iran (BBC News)
Algerian imprisoned for seven years is released due to lack of evidence against him:
- Second Qaeda Suspect Freed in Britain (New York Times)
UN aid to unemployed Iraqi refugees finds its way in the hands of Jordanian service institutions:
- In Jordan, Aid for Iraqi Refugees Is Often Redirected (Christian Science Monitor)
Civil society source in Somalia suspects a political dimension in attacks on innocents and foreigners:
- Govt Denounces Attacks On Aid Workers As Abductions Continue (UN Integrated Regional Information Networks/All Africa)
Dysfunctional government means locals turn to gangs for protection and business opportunities:
- Gangs Rule North Jakarta As Local Govt Fails (Jakarta Post)
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