Morning Brief, Friday, August 3
Middle East HASSAN AMMAR/AFP/Getty Images Speaking of Iraq, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates admitted that “the developments on the political side are somewhat discouraging at the national level.” The secretive ways of Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki may be part of the problem. U.S. President George W. Bush pointedly warned “those who have contributed ...
Middle East
Middle East
Speaking of Iraq, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates admitted that “the developments on the political side are somewhat discouraging at the national level.” The secretive ways of Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki may be part of the problem.
U.S. President George W. Bush pointedly warned “those who have contributed to the breakdown of the rule of law in Lebanon” (read: Syria and Hezbollah) not to interfere in Lebanese affairs.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saw “some polite nibbles, but not yet the big bite” on an upcoming Middle East peace conference, notes Robin Wright of the Washington Post.
Asia
Pakistan warns that the now-finalized nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and India could spark a nuclear arms race in south Asia.
China’s commerce minister claims that “over 99 per cent of China’s export products are good and safe.”
China’s big new dam works great, Edward Cody reports for the Washington Post.
Europe
French president Nicolas Sarkozy: not bold enough?
Belarus is turning to Hugo Chávez for help with its bills for Russian gas.
One of the two suspects who participated in a failed SUV attack on the Glasgow airport died of massive burns.
Elsewhere
For at least several months, private equity companies could find it harder to finance deals as a result of the U.S. subprime fiasco. But the International Monetary Fund is sticking by its “very favorable” outlook on the global economy. Meanwhile, U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman warns that high oil prices have the U.S. economy in the “danger zone”.
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are giving up on increasing fuel-economy standards, at least for now.
Argentina’s first lady and top presidential candidate says she’s not like Hillary Clinton.
Today’s Agenda
- President Bush is expected to sign the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007.
- The African Union and the United Nations are cochairing a meeting of Darfur rebel groups in Tanzania.
- Finland hosts the World Sauna Championships.
- The Wikimania 2007 conference kicks off in Taipei.
- NASA gears up for tomorrow’s launch of a new Mars lander.
Yesterday on Passport
More from Foreign Policy
A New Multilateralism
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America Prepares for a Pacific War With China It Doesn’t Want
Embedded with U.S. forces in the Pacific, I saw the dilemmas of deterrence firsthand.
The Endless Frustration of Chinese Diplomacy
Beijing’s representatives are always scared they could be the next to vanish.
The End of America’s Middle East
The region’s four major countries have all forfeited Washington’s trust.
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