IRAN
Analysis: Israelis doubt world will stop Iran’s nuclear quest
Dan Williams, Reuters – November 15, 2011
The latest report by U.N. inspectors has hardened suspicions that Iran is seeking nuclear arms capability, but Israeli experts have little confidence that international action will deny the Islamic Republic the means to make a bomb.
Handicapping a War over Iran’s Nuclear Aims: Noe & Raad
Nicholas Noe & Walid Raad, Bloomberg (Opinon) – November 14, 2011
As concerns mounted over a possible military confrontation between Israel and Iran, several leading Arab commentators argued that such worries were overblown.
NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA
Seoul halts flying leaflets to N. Korea
Kim Young-jin, The Korea Times – November 15, 2011
Seoul has suspended its launches of anti-regime pamphlets into North Korea, a military source said Tuesday in the latest sign of easing tension on the peninsula.
N. Korea down bitter rivals Japan in W.Cup qualifier
Hiroshi Hiyama, AFP – November 15, 2011
North Korea downed bitter rivals Japan 1-0 on Tuesday in a bad-tempered World Cup qualifier dripping with political tensions and littered with yellow cards.
PAKISTAN
Fear trade move will trigger arms race
Amanda Hodge, The Australian – November 16, 2011
SECURITY analysts on both sides of the India-Pakistan border have warned that the decision to sell Australian uranium to India could trigger an arms race between the two nuclear-armed rivals.
UNITED STATES
Panetta: More Budget Cuts Could End Joint Strike Fighter, Land-Based ICBMs
Luis Martinez, ABC News – November 14, 2011
Defense Secretary Panetta is warning Congress that additional Pentagon budget cuts that would be triggered if the Super Committee fails to reach a deal by next week could lead to significant military cutbacks, including the possible termination of the Joint Strike Fighter program and the end of America’s land-based nuclear missile fleet.
Panetta outlines effects of deeper US defense cuts
Dan De Luce, AFP – November 15, 2011
Pentagon chief Leon Panetta has warned that if Congress fails to prevent deep defense budget cuts, the US military will be left weaker, slower and smaller — posing a danger to national security.
The 2012 Election and the Rebuplican Party’s Foreign Policy
James M. Lindsay, Foreign Afairs – November 14, 2011
The Republican presidential candidates gathered in South Carolina on Saturday night to dive into a topic they had largely skirted: foreign policy. Their exchanges followed a predictable rhythm: they were long on criticism of President Barack Obama and promises to do better, while they were short on nuance and complexity.
Torture and Exceptionalism
Frank Bruni, NYT (Opinon) – November 14, 2011
If we truly believe ourselves to be exceptional, a model for all the world and an example for all of history, then why would we practice torture? That’s what waterboarding is, and that’s why President Obama banned it — rightly.
