Morning Brief: Russia reacts; Rice lands in Tbilisi
Top Story PHILIPPE LAURENSON/AFP/Getty Images Russia seized upon Thursday’s announcement that Poland had inked a missile-defense deal with the United States as proof that the system was aimed at Moscow. Washington insists the technology is meant to shield Europe from Iran, but a top Russian general warned that the deal “cannot go unpunished,” adding, “Poland, ...
Top Story
Top Story
Russia seized upon Thursday’s announcement that Poland had inked a missile-defense deal with the United States as proof that the system was aimed at Moscow. Washington insists the technology is meant to shield Europe from Iran, but a top Russian general warned that the deal “cannot go unpunished,” adding, “Poland, by deploying (the system) is exposing itself to a strike — 100 percent.”
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Tbilisi Friday to begin negotating a formal cease-fire agreement. Russian troops have failed to withdraw from Georgia proper, and the Georgians accuse Russia of facilitiating “ethnic cleansing” in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
President Bush, speaking this morning, characterized Georgia as a “courageous democracy” and reiterated that its “sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected.”
Decision ’08
Reuters expects “huge protests” at the upcoming party conventions.
Economy
The latest inflation and jobs reports are bad news for the U.S. economy.
New data indicates that there may be more speculation in the oil markets than previously thought.
Expanding “dead zones” in the ocean could pose a mortal threat to food supplies.
Asia
India warns that its peace negotiations with Pakistan are in jeopardy.
Pakistan’s President Musharraf again denied reports that he has agreed to resign.
John Pomfret asks, “Should we give China a break?”
Middle East and Africa
Lebanese Hezbollah is training Iraqi Shiite “explosive and assassination teams,” the Associated Press reports.
A pair of bombs struck Shiites making the pilgrimmage to Karbala Thursday and Friday.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warns that Zimbabwe’s restrictions on food aid risk a “catastrophic humanitarian crisis.”
Europe
Most of the 4,100 British troops in Iraq could be withdrawn by next summer, according to their outgoing commander. The Brits say Basra is booming.
Wall Street is growing increasingly wary of investing in Russia.
Philip Stephens: Russia is more vulnerable than you think.
Today’s Agenda
Paraguay swears in its new president.
OPEC releases its monthly oil data.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Sochi.
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