Front Cover of Foreign Policy Magazine: The Carter Syndrome by Walter Russell Mead
- FP: Welcome to Qaedastan
...Yemen has so many dire problems that it's easy to be overwhelmed. Al Qaeda is growing in prominence, a Shiite rebellion is expanding in the north, and the threat of secession is renewed in the south...(Full Article).
- RFE/RL: Iran Says It Will Make Own Highly Enriched Uranium If Unavailable From West
...Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told state TV on January 2 the West must "make a decision" on Iran's counterproposal that it either sell Tehran 20 percent enriched fuel or swap it for part of Iran's current stock of lower-enriched uranium. He said the international community "has one month left" to decide...(Full Article).
- HAARETZ: CIA catches Iranian trying to buy arms 'for war against U.S.'
An Iranian businessman was caught on tape by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency attempting to purchase weapons and military systems during a clandestine deal in Georgia...(Full Article).
- THE MEMRI BLOG: Houthi Rebels Agree to Dialogue
- ASHARQ ALAWSAT: Baathist to Relocate Al Qaeda Elements from Yemen to Iraq- Iraqi Aid
The Iraqi Ministry of Interior confirmed a warning issued by a parliamentary committee that Al Qaeda militants based in Yemen are planning, with the aid of Baathist leaders in Sanaa, to move to Iraq via a neighboring country, after their continued presence in Yemen is uncertain following US intervention [in this conflict]...(Full Article).
- THE MEMRI BLOG: Iranian Website: Iran Can Jam U.S. Radar Systems
- WSJ: Tehran Plans a Major Military Exercise
Iranian media on Sunday reported Tehran will conduct a large-scale defensive military exercise next month, coinciding with what government officials now say is a deadline for the West to respond to its counteroffer to a nuclear-fuel deal...(Full Article).
- PRESS TV: 'US preparing new psyops campaign against Iran'
The former head of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) says the United States is afraid of Iran's nuclear capabilities and is trying to provoke other countries to wage a psychological war against Iran...(Full Article).
- PRESS TV: Hamas will fight alongside Hezbollah in next war
The Hamas political representative in Lebanon says the Palestinian resistance group will fight alongside Hezbollah should Israel launch a new offensive against Lebanon...(Full Article).
- HAARETZ: Report: Obama backs Egypt plan for Mideast peace
Barack Obama's administration supports Egypt's vision for a Middle East peace plan that would include a complete halt of construction in West Bank settlements as well as the release of senior Palestinian officials from Israeli prisons, the Qatar-based news network Al-Jazeera reported on Sunday...(Full Article).
- NAHARNET: Report: Jalili Urged Hamas, Hizbullah to Carry Out Attacks Against Israel
Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, has met with top Hamas and Hizbullah officials and urged them to carry out military operations against Israel, well-informed Palestinian sources told the Saudi al-Madina newspaper...(Full Article).
- AP: Hamas Leader Claims Progress in Palestinian Talks
- ROOZ ONLINE: Conservatives React to Mousavi’s Statement
...Kayhan daily wrote in this regard, “After 5 days of silence toward the unprecedented insults of anti-revolutionary thugs on the Ashoura day, Mir-Hossein Mousavi referred to those who insulted to holy beliefs as pious people.” The newspaper, which is under published under ayatollah Khamenei’s supervision, accused the wartime prime minister with sophism and dishonesty and described him as a mercenary and tool in the hand of the United States, England and Israel. The Fars news agency also wrote in its report, “Mir-Hossein Mousavi defended those who insulted holy beliefs on Ashoura day.”...(Full Article).
- REUTERS: U.S., British embassies extend closure in Yemen
The United States and British embassies in Yemen extended a closure on Monday over concerns about possible militant attacks after the failed bombing of a U.S.-bound plane on Christmas Day...(Full Article).
- REUTERS: No "smoking gun" in airplane plot, says White House
A top White House official said on Sunday the plot to bomb a Detroit-bound plane on Christmas Day exposed errors but he played down the need for a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. security system...(Full Article).
- REUTERS: U.S. to search all air travelers from 'terrorist' states
The U.S. government announced on Sunday new security screening procedures for passengers from countries listed as "state sponsors of terrorism" and selected others as part of a crackdown following the botched Christmas Day bombing of a Detroit-bound airliner...(Full Article).
- AFP: Chinese firms trading with Iran evade US sanctions: report
...The Chinese firms are continuing to do brisk trade with US companies and the indications are that US sanctions have become so numerous and complex that they have become difficult to enforce, the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control said...(Full Article).
- AFP: Jordan spy among 8 killed at CIA Afghan base: report
The eighth man killed in a suicide bomb attack on a secret CIA base in Afghanistan last week was a captain in the Jordanian spy service known as the General Intelligence Department (GID), The Washington Post reported...(Full Article).
- HAARETZ: U.S. students come to Israel to build homes for Gaza evacuees
Twelve students from Yeshiva University will land in Israel on Monday to spend a week constructing permanent homes, schools, and community centers for former Gush Katif residents in the desert community of Halutza in southern Israel...(Full Article).
- TIMESONLINE: Burj Dubai, the first superscraper
For years, Dubai boasted that whatever bling project it embarked upon, from carving its coastline into palm-tree-shaped resorts to building vast ski domes in the sand, it would be the “number one in the world”. After the credit crunch, however, it looked like the only record the Gulf city state would claim is the biggest boom and bust...(Full Article).
- LAT: Afghans love to get their goat in national sport of buzkashi
The sport, in which players on horseback vie for a headless goat carcass to much crowd enthusiasm, is back in force since the Taliban's overthrow. Some dream of it being in the Olympics...(Full Article).
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