8/29/08 

This week, events around the world confirmed many of the arguments that progressives have long been making about foreign policy.  In Iraq, Prime Minister Maliki firmly asserted the need for a clear timetable for the withdrawal of American forces.  In Washington, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway made the case for a shift of American troops away from Iraq and to Afghanistan.  And in Pakistan, the collapse of the ruling coalition again confirmed the need to support strong democratic institutions instead of a personality first foreign policy that gave President Musharraf a blank check.  These are all positions that progressives have held for years– positions that the Bush administration chose to ignore.

Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki asserted that there will be no agreement between Iraq and the United States unless there is a “specific” timeline for the withdrawal of American forces that is “not open-ended.”  Speaking with tribal leaders, sheikhs and other prominent figures, al-Maliki said “There is an agreement between both sides that no foreign soldiers will be in Iraq after 2011.” He added that the accord "must be based on a specific deadline for the withdrawal of foreign forces and that it should not be open."  [Washington Post, 8/26/08.  CNN, 8/25/08]

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway reaffirmed this week that we need more troops in Afghanistan, stating that “the economy of force is not necessarily working,” and calling for additional troops.  “While pointing to security gains in Iraq, Conway voiced concern over increased violence in Afghanistan, where he said insurgent attacks and U.S. troop casualties have increased since 2004.  ‘The Taliban are growing bolder in their tactics and clearly doing their best to exploit security gaps where they exist’…  Conway made a strong pitch to send thousands of additional Marines or other U.S. troops to Afghanistan, voicing agreement with U.S. commanders there who have said for years that they have too small a force and have called for as many as 10,000 more troops. ‘The economy of force is not necessarily working,’ Conway said.  [Washington Post, 8/28/08]

Pakistan’s governing coalition is teetering on the verge of collapse with the announcement by Nawaz Sharif that his party is withdrawing from the coalition government.  Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N party announced this week that it will leave the governing coalition headed by the Pakistan People’s Party, which is led by Benazir Bhutto’s widower, Asif Al Zardari.  The two parties disagree on the restoration of the judges ousted by Pervez Musharraf last year, which became a critical issue in undermining Musharraf’s hold on power.  They also disagree on the timing of the new presidential elections to succeed Musharraf.  The Muslim League wants the judges reinstated immediately and the Presidential elections to replace Musharraf pushed back past September 6th so that it can better prepare for the election, while the People’s Party has supported faster elections and been less supportive of the reinstatement of the judges.  Pakistan’s crisis of governance is a tragic reminder that the personality-driven diplomacy of the Bush Years cannot substitute for strong support for democracy and the rule of law. [Wall Street Journal, 8/25/08.  AP, 8/25/08]

Quick Hits

Barack Obama closed the Democratic National Convention in front of more than 80,000 supporters with a detailed speech that sharply criticized John McCain.

Today is the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina as another strong storm, Gustav, barrels down on the Gulf Coast and possibly New Orleans.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin claimed that the U.S. encouraged Georgian aggression for political reasons, which the White House rejected as being “patently false.”

In a diplomatic blow to Russia the Shanghai cooperation organization, a seven- nation security alliance that includes China and four former Soviet republics, failed to back Russia’s recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Ali Faisal al-Lami, a senior aid to Ahmed Chalabi and executive on Iraq’s de-Baathification committee was arrested by the U.S. military for his cooperation with Shi’a militias supported by Iran.

New details emerge about the oil agreement that Iraq signed with China, a deal worth up to $3 billion.

At least 55 people have been killed and over 2.5 million displaced due to severe flooding in India; the inadequate shelter and lack of food and aid has sparked resentment and anger among refugees.

Eleven headless bodies were found near a Mexican graveyard and appear to be connected to drug cartel warfare which has dramatically increased in Mexico lately, killing approximately 2,300.

Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan  Karadzic is scheduled to enter pleas at the U.N.'s Yugoslav war crimes tribunal in the Hague.

Police have clashed with protesters in Thailand who have occupied government buildings in a struggle against the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.