Afghanistan........
The tactic isn’t entirely knew, as major Karzai rows usually result in the administration giving lip-service to the zero option, with the hope of scaring Karzai back to the table with the prospect of being overrun by the Taliban without occupation forces to secure his rule.
White House: US Considering Leaving Afghanistan After 2014
Citing Latest Karzai Row, Officials Claim 'Zero Option' Back
by Jason Ditz, July 08, 2013
The so-called “zero option” on Afghanistan, leaving no troops after the end of 2014, is back as a talking point for the Obama Administration, coming as the White House tries to coax President Hamid Karzai back to talks on troop levels.
The tactic isn’t entirely knew, as major Karzai rows usually result in the administration giving lip-service to the zero option, with the hope of scaring Karzai back to the table with the prospect of being overrun by the Taliban without occupation forces to secure his rule.
On the other hand Karzai’s withdrawal from the talks came because of fear that he’s going to get left out of a US-Taliban deal, and as a lame duck president he doesn’t have nearly the reason to play ball he once did.
Gen. John Allen, the retired head of the US occupation, also spilled the beans a few months ago when he admitted that the zero option was never even considered, and that the US has operated only on the assumption that some level of troops, how many remains to be seen, will be occupying Afghanistan in 2015 and beyond.
Assuming this hasn’t changed suddenly, Karzai has the option of calling the administration’s bluff this time, and holding out for better terms on any deal. Either way, Karzai’s term in office ends next May, and that will leave the US with a chance to negotiate with his successor, and leave Karzai with plenty of time to flee into exile if things break badly for him.
Iraq.......
Young Athletes Again Attacked; 33 Killed Across Iraq
Monday: 33 Killed, 36 Wounded
by Margaret Griffis, July 08, 2013
At least 33 Iraqis were killed and 36 more were wounded in new bloodshed. Mosul took the most hits, but a bomb south of Baghdad targeted young athletes and sports fans.
In Mosul, gunmen killed a spokesman who worked for the provincial council. A car bomb killed one person and wounded six more in a commercial area. Gunmen killed a civilian and a policeman in separate locations. Another bomb killed four people and wounded six more. A bomb targeting an army patrol killed two civilians and wounded four others.
A bomb near a Madaen youth center and soccer field left six dead and three wounded.
In Abu Saida, two brothers were shot dead in a field. North of the two Sunnis were gunned down.
A bomb in Hammam al-Alil killed five people and wounded seven more.
Three Sahwa members and two gunmen were killed in a clash on a highway innorthern Iraq.
Gunmen at a Tikrit checkpoint killed two policemen.
A sticky bomb killed a Sahwa member in Baquba.
A trash can bomb wounded six in Haditha.
Three people were wounded in a blast in Ramadi.
In al-Aethah, a bomb wounded a member of the Salah ad Din provincial council.
Pakistan.......
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2013\07\09\story_9-7-2013_pg7_6
Three NATO containers set ablaze in Quetta
QUETTA: As many as three NATO containers and a private one were set on fire after armed attacks in two different incidents in Quetta and Mastung district of Balochistan on Monday.
According to the details, armed men, ridding on two motorbikes, attacked a convoy of three NATO containers in Western bypass area of Quetta in the proximity of Marri camp. Resultantly, one of the containers caught fire and was burnt to ashes whereas two others were partially damaged. Fire brigade reached to the site following the incident and made hectic efforts to extinguish the fire.
The attackers fled after the incident and no loss of life was reported in the incident. Police registered the case of incident and investigation is underway. In a similar incident, a private container was attacked in the Dasht area of District Mastung. According to the details, unknown armed men, riding on a motorbike, opened fire on a private container. Resultantly, the wind-screen of the container smashed into pieces and the driver also sustained injuries as a result. staff report
According to the details, armed men, ridding on two motorbikes, attacked a convoy of three NATO containers in Western bypass area of Quetta in the proximity of Marri camp. Resultantly, one of the containers caught fire and was burnt to ashes whereas two others were partially damaged. Fire brigade reached to the site following the incident and made hectic efforts to extinguish the fire.
The attackers fled after the incident and no loss of life was reported in the incident. Police registered the case of incident and investigation is underway. In a similar incident, a private container was attacked in the Dasht area of District Mastung. According to the details, unknown armed men, riding on a motorbike, opened fire on a private container. Resultantly, the wind-screen of the container smashed into pieces and the driver also sustained injuries as a result. staff report
http://news.yahoo.com/turkey-again-closes-istanbul-park-171327832.html
ISTANBUL (AP) — An Istanbul park that was at the center of weeks of anti-government demonstrations opened for a few hours Monday, but Turkish authorities quickly closed it and fired a water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters heading to the area for a planned rally.
The attack — the second by police on protesters since Saturday — occurred on a main pedestrian road leading to Istanbul's landmark Taksim Square and adjacent Gezi Par.
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