IRAN
Iran to soon move nuclear material to bunker – sources
Fredrik Dahl, Reuters – October 21, 2011
Iran plans to soon start moving nuclear material to an underground site for the pursuit of sensitive atomic activities, diplomatic sources say, a move likely to add to Western fears about Tehran’s intentions.
Tehran’s Domestic Discontents
Ray Takeyh, NYT (op-ed) – October 21, 2011
Iran’s response to Washington’s accusations that Tehran was involved in a bizarre assassination plot on U.S. soil discloses more about the Islamic Republic than its maladroit penchant toward violence.
NORTH KOREA
NK to hold onto nukes after Gadhafi fall
Kim Young-jin, The Korea Times – October 21, 2011
As the world reacted to the death of ousted Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi, the North Korean people on Friday were predictably deprived of the news, with state media making no mention of the grisly demise of one of leader Kim Jong-il’s shrinking list of fellow dictators.
UN says North Korea needs food aid, not politics
AP – October 21, 2011
Wealthier countries need to put aside politics to help millions of North Koreans going hungry from food shortages, the U.N.’ top relief official said Friday, renewing an appeal for assistance that has largely gone unmet.
Time to talk
The Korea Times (op-ed) – October 21, 2011
In the run-up to the second U.S.-North Korea contact in three months, major regional capitals are bristling with diplomatic activity. All of them are zeroing in on one possibility: will the bilateral meeting lead to the resumption of the six-party talks leaving a three-year hiatus behind?
LIBYA
China Calls for Unity in Libya
Brian Spegele, WSJ – October 21, 2011
With infrastructure and resource ties to protect, China on Friday defended its handling of Libya’s civil war and declared that the country’s “history has turned a new page” with the death of former strongman Col. Moammar Gadhafi.
U.N. Panel Calls for Inquiry Into Qaddafi’s Death
Nick Cumming-Bruce, NYT – October 21, 2011
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Friday for an inquiry into the death of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi amid conflicting accounts of how the Libyan dictator met his end and video that appeared to show him alive after his capture.
PAKISTAN
US is Pakistan’s impossible to please mother-in-law, woman tells Secretary of State Clinton
AP (Washington Post) – October 21, 2011
Washington’s troubled relationship with Pakistan has triggered plenty of heartburn for U.S. officials, but rarely sidesplitting laughter.
SPAIN
ETA End to Violence Spurs Call for Proof; PM Welcomes Move
Emma Ross-Thomas, Bloomberg – October 21, 2011
Basque terror group ETA’s move to lay down its arms prompted a “restrained” welcome from Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero as opposition leader Mariano Rajoy called for proof that the group is disbanding.
UNITED STATES
Gadhafi death amounts to victory for Obama’s approach, but little impact likely on election
AP (Washington Post) – October 21, 2011
One top Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said Thursday that replacing Gadhafi with a representative democracy in Libya will be “worth its weight in gold in terms of our national security.” He added that fellow Republicans who “wanted the War Powers Act invoked would not have asked for it if President Obama wasn’t the president.”
Pentagon Chief Panetta Plans Asia Talks on Deterring Threats
Viola Gienger, Bloomberg – October 20, 2011
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta heads for Indonesia, Japan and South Korea today to encourage more security cooperation that would deter threats from North Korea and provide a hedge against military expansion by China.
