Morning Brief, Wednesday, November 29

Middle East President Bush dismisses talk about civil war in Iraq as “speculation,” while the U.S. military predicts a surge in sectarian violence following last Thursday’s rash of bombings in Sadr City. Nominee for Secretary of Defense Robert Gates questions pre-war planning about Iraq and National Security Advisor Stephen J. Hadley wonders if Iraqi PM ...

Middle East

Middle East

President Bush dismisses talk about civil war in Iraq as “speculation,” while the U.S. military predicts a surge in sectarian violence following last Thursday’s rash of bombings in Sadr City. Nominee for Secretary of Defense Robert Gates questions pre-war planning about Iraq and National Security Advisor Stephen J. Hadley wonders if Iraqi PM Nuri Kamal al-Maliki can do his job.

Israeli papers express doubts about the long-term prospects of the cease-fire. The Palestinians are only slightly more optimistic. Currently, though, Israelis are more concerned with the manhunt for Benny Sella, a convicted serial rapist who escaped police custody in Tel Aviv last Friday.

The latest draft of the United Nations Security Council resolution on Iran omits talk of sanctions.

South Asia

At the NATO summit, France and Germany refuse to send large numbers of troops to southern Afghanistan, but the Dutch and Romanians decide to pick up some of the slack.

An official report in India says that Muslims are among the country’s poorest inhabitants and the BBC reports that Pakistani nuclear scientist and notorious proliferator A.Q. Khan is sick.

Europe

The Pope makes a 180 while in Turkey, supporting the country’s E.U. bid. Conversely, the European Commission pushes for a freeze in the talks.

Embattled Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko writes in today’s WaPo that the Orange Revolution is still strong.

A European Parliament report says that 11 countries, including Britain, Italy, and Germany were aware of the C.I.A.’s rendition program. In Virginia, the German citizen who accuses the C.I.A. of torturing him in Afghanistan after mistakenly abducting him is appealing his case against the U.S. government.

Americas

An ailing Fidel Castro misses the opening ceremonies for his 80th birthday. He hasn’t been seen since October 28.

The Supreme Court considers the EPA’s role in combating global warming.

The president-appointed Civil Liberties Board is “impressed” by the controls in place to protect Americans from the administration’s bank-data spying in Europe.

Violence rises in Mexico, which has seen almost twice as many drug killings this year than it did last year.

Elsewhere

The Chinese Patriotic Catholic Church plans to consecrate its third bishop without the Vatican’s sanction.

U.N aid chief Jan Egeland warns the African Union about the links between the conflicts in Darfur, Chad, and the Central African Republic.

More from Foreign Policy

The USS Nimitz and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and South Korean Navy warships sail in formation during a joint naval exercise off the South Korean coast.
The USS Nimitz and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and South Korean Navy warships sail in formation during a joint naval exercise off the South Korean coast.

America Is a Heartbeat Away From a War It Could Lose

Global war is neither a theoretical contingency nor the fever dream of hawks and militarists.

A protester waves a Palestinian flag in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. People sit and walk on the grass lawn in front of the protester and barricades.
A protester waves a Palestinian flag in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. People sit and walk on the grass lawn in front of the protester and barricades.

The West’s Incoherent Critique of Israel’s Gaza Strategy

The reality of fighting Hamas in Gaza makes this war terrible one way or another.

Biden dressed in a dark blue suit walks with his head down past a row of alternating U.S. and Israeli flags.
Biden dressed in a dark blue suit walks with his head down past a row of alternating U.S. and Israeli flags.

Biden Owns the Israel-Palestine Conflict Now

In tying Washington to Israel’s war in Gaza, the U.S. president now shares responsibility for the broader conflict’s fate.

U.S. President Joe Biden is seen in profile as he greets Chinese President Xi Jinping with a handshake. Xi, a 70-year-old man in a dark blue suit, smiles as he takes the hand of Biden, an 80-year-old man who also wears a dark blue suit.
U.S. President Joe Biden is seen in profile as he greets Chinese President Xi Jinping with a handshake. Xi, a 70-year-old man in a dark blue suit, smiles as he takes the hand of Biden, an 80-year-old man who also wears a dark blue suit.

Taiwan’s Room to Maneuver Shrinks as Biden and Xi Meet

As the latest crisis in the straits wraps up, Taipei is on the back foot.