ISW News Roundup - December 18, 2008
Iraq Politics and Reconstruction
BBC - Iraqi ministry officials arrested
Associated Press - Up to 25 Iraqis accused in Saddam party plot, by Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Sinan Salaheddin
Reuters - U.S. says Iraq fails to tackle corrupt high officials, by Missy Ryan
LA Times - Iraq detains police officials, including Interior Ministry generals, by Raheem Salman and Ned Parker
Washington Post - Iraqi Security Officials Detained, by Sudarsan Raghavan and Qais Mizher
New York Times - 35 Iraqi Officials Are Held in Raids on Key Ministry, by Campbell Robertson and Tariq Maher
New York Times - Report Says Iraq May Ban Blackwater, by Scott Shane
Reuters - Iraq PM office says shoe-thrower apologizes, by Wisam Mohammed
Christian Science Monitor - In Iraq, a different kind of drama stages a message of reconciliation, by Edward O'Connell and Cheryl Benard
Iraq Security
New York Times - Generals Propose a Timetable for Iraq, by Elisabeth Bumiller and Thom Shanker
Associated Press - Petraeus offers first outlook on Iraq, Afghanistan, by Robert Burns
Khaleej Times - Death toll in Baghdad twin blasts rises to 25
Reuters - British PM announces Iraq troop withdrawal plan, by Luke Baker
Voice of America - British Troops to Complete Iraq Mission in 2009
Defenselink Mil - Iraqis Improve Logistics En Route to Becoming Self-Sufficient, by Army Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield
The Australian - Deal to keep Australian troops in Iraq till July
Associated Press - Albania now pulling its 218 troops out of Iraq
Associated Press - Bulgarian troops return from Iraq
Pakistan and Afghanistan
Asia Times - Pakistan groups banned but not bowed, by Syed Saleem Shahzad
Christian Science Monitor - Afghan women fear a retreat to dark days, by Gayle Tzemach
Voice of America- Pakistan Summons Indian Envoy Over Alleged Airspace Violation
Times Online UK - Gunmen attack new Afghan supply route, by Jeremy Page
Associated Press - Pakistanis protest US supply line into Afghanistan, by Munir Ahmad
Daily Times - Tribal militancy threatens US bid to stabilise Afghanistan
Reuters - Rockets fired at Western force supplies in Pakistan, by Ibrahim Shinwari
CNN - Taliban on agenda as Zardari visits Afghanistan
Voice of America - UN Calls for New Afghan Strategy to Protect Civilians
Agence France Presse- Sixth British soldier in a week killed in Afghanistan
World
Arab Media
Washington Times - Headlines from the Arab press
Lebanon
New York Times - Russia, Testing U.S. Sway, Offers Lebanon 10 Warplanes, by Robert F. Worth
LA Times - Russia to donate 10 MiG fighter jets to Lebanon, by Borzou Daragahi and Raed Rafei
OPEC
Christian Science Monitor - OPEC announces historic cuts to buoy oil prices, by Liam Stack
Iran
Wall Street Journal - U.S. Claims Iran Tie to a Manhattan Skyscraper, by Evan Perez
Israel
Breitbart - Israel's ruling party holds national primary, by Aron Heller
Russia
Breitbart - Russian treason bill could hit Kremlin critics, by David Nowak