Topic: Middle East
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Focus
The Monitor's top 11 US stories of 2012
From storms to politics, the year was a wild ride. What are the most meaningful US stories of 2012? Here's the Monitor's list, in roughly chronological order.
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Iran fires at US drone: the top 3 pressing questions
Iranian military forces fired at a US Predator drone for the first time ever earlier this month, the Pentagon acknowledged this week. It’s a revelation that has raised a host of questions for the US military. Here are the top three.
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War with Iran? 5 ways events overseas could shape Obama's second term.
The threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program is the most urgent example of the foreign-policy challenges that face President Obama in his second term. Here are four others.
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How the world is reacting to Obama's reelection
From China to Iran, President Obama's reelection elicited everything from celebration to doubt about his second-term agenda. Here are 11 responses:
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5 national security issues next president must tackle
President Obama and Mitt Romney battle over foreign policy issues in the third and final presidential debate. No matter who wins the presidential election November 6, Mr. Romney or Mr. Obama will have to confront five urgent national security issues in the first weeks of his term.
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NATO members need to step up, says UK defense minister
Philip Hammond said today that Europe needs to take greater responsibility for its own security and be ready to act abroad. But NATO will have to become more efficient first, he warned.
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Opinion: Lack of US, Western intervention in Syria helps jihadists
Hillary Clinton heads to Doha, Qatar next week to push for a shakeup in the Syrian opposition. The West must step up its game by providing advanced weapons to Syrian rebels. Fears of such weapons aiding jihadist fighters are overblown, even as Western hesitancy strengthens jihadists.
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Terrorism & Security
Bahrain bans public demonstrations as protest movement rises againAn uptick in clashes between Bahrain's pro-democracy protesters and the government prompted Bahrain to take its most extreme steps to quash dissent since the uprising began in 2011.
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Iranian warships dock in Sudan after alleged Israeli airstrikes
The visit has put Sudan's links to Iran under closer scrutiny.
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Why Saudi Arabia is taking a shine to solar
The Saudis are raising $100 billion for solar-power development, which could ease its rapidly growing demand for electric power. Though natural gas would be cheaper, the Saudis may prefer solar.
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Decoder Wire
Do the numbers of Obama's $4 trillion deficit plan add up?Deficit plans are never set in stone and often more a statement of policy values than a fiscal blueprint. President Obama's is no different. But digging into it offers interesting insight.
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Global News Blog
Good reads: Growth we missed, Berlin's awkward fit, and where kids know bestThis week's long-form good reads may change your perspective on the effects of the Great Recession, the importance of geography, and how to measure the quality of a teacher.
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How will Syria mark Eid al-Adha? (+video)
In recognition of the Muslim holiday, a ceasefire is planned in Syria beginning Friday and running through Monday. UN aid agencies are hoping to use the window to provide aid to Syrians living in hard-to-reach parts of the country.
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Cybersecurity chief: Attacks on US banks tough to pin down
Cybersecurity getting increased attention from US government after a wave of Internet attacks on US banks. Pentagon blames Iran, but cybersecurity expert Gil Shwed says they could come from any developed country.
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Decoder Wire
Bob Schieffer and presidential debate: Will this moderator enforce the rules?Bob Schieffer moderates the third presidential debate, on foreign policy, Monday evening. If the first two debates are any indication, the challenge for him will be containing the discussion.
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Latin America Monitor
Will Obama and Romney broach Latin America in tonight's debate?From Hezbollah and Iran in the Americas to free trade agreements, Romney and Obama could discuss an array of important regional topics during tonight's final debate. But will they?
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5 national security issues next president must tackle
President Obama and Mitt Romney battle over foreign policy issues in the third and final presidential debate. No matter who wins the presidential election November 6, Mr. Romney or Mr. Obama will have to confront five urgent national security issues in the first weeks of his term.
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'Fortress Israel' and 'The Generals'
Authors Patrick Tyler and Thomas E. Ricks examine Israeli and U.S. militarism through the country's commanders.
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Foreign affairs: 23 new books I wish Obama and Romney would read
In preparation for the upcoming presidential debate on foreign policy, check out these 23 books that offer the kind of nuance and context mostly overlooked during a campaign.
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Romney gains on Obama on foreign-policy issues, in time for next debate (+video)
Americans have a much-improved view of Mitt Romney's foreign-policy positions, but Obama still has the edge on which candidate would better handle international matters, a new poll shows. Monday's presidential debate is on foreign policy and national security.
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The Monitor's View: Please, a discerning presidential debate on foreign policy
When Mitt Romney and President Obama debate foreign policy Monday evening, they need to admit the US faces wholly new challenges that require a national consensus on the core values that can drive US responses.
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Anxious Turks suspect US plot is behind Syria's implosion
Locals in eastern Turkey, bearing the brunt of the fallout from Turkey's involvement in Syria, believe Ankara is merely a pawn in US plans to foment conflict in the region.
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50 years after Cuban missile crisis: 5 ways US must promote nuclear nonproliferation
Fifty years after the Cuban missile crisis brought the world to the brink of a nuclear holocaust, the threats posed by the bomb still hang over us all. The next US president must pursue a nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament “stimulus plan.” It should include the following elements.
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In break from tense campaign, Obama and Romney score laughs with standup routines
A sampling of the best quips from their stand-up routines:
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Syria's wealthy business owners face war-time squeeze
Many wealthy businessmen in Syria continue to support President Bashar al-Assad. But some have expressed frustration or have fled abroad, as the conflict in their country and its economy worsens.
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Energy Voices
Why natural gas isn't likely to solve our energy woesPeople who are counting on natural gas to solve the world’s energy problems are 'counting their chickens before they are hatched,' Tverberg writes. Natural gas requires a lot of infrastructure and up-front costs to obtain satisfactory results.
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Change Agent
Saudi princess founds Opt4Unity to bridge cultural divides'Saudi women have been quiet for a long, long time, and it’s about time we spoke up,' says Saudi Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel.
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By taking Benghazi blame, will Hillary Clinton help or harm Obama?
By taking responsibility for the security failure, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared to be trying to shield her boss, a president locked in a tight reelection battle, from further political fallout.
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Backchannels
A senior Iraqi official ponders if his government is a client of Iran'sWhy not? Everyone else is doing it.
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Israel's Netanyahu banks on tough guy image to win early elections
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is campaigning in early elections, announced today for January, as the candidate with a proven record of keeping Israelis safe in turbulent times.
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