Arthur's Day

Today is Arthur's Day, the 250th anniversary of Guinness - ze greatest beer in all ze world! So, I put together the news from Tuesday and Wednesday, and decided to categorize and post the more serious items today, and save the lighter elements for AMF. So, have a great day, and check back tomorrow.

Crazy Uncle Moammar at the UN

NY Post: Libya's Al-Qaddafi Denied Posh NYC Townhouse for U.N. Visit

Colonel Gaddafi's tent falls foul of US building code (BBC, Guardian)

Gaddafi finally pitches his tent - on Trump's land (Times, Guardian); Times: Libyans pretend to be Dutch to get Gaddafi a room

Guardian: Britain's realpolitik relations with Libya

Afghanistan

Taliban Leader Tells 'Invaders' to Study History (AP, AFP) - I'm pretty sure that the picture in the AP article isn't actually Mullah Omar - Mullah Omar only has one eye, and intentionally avoids being photographed or videotaped because he believes that photography is idolatry.

AP: Afghan Commandos Try to Persuade Countrymen to Turn Against Taliban

U.S. general seeks more troops in Afghanistan (CNN, BBC, Guardian, Times, Guardian)

Al Qaeda Warns Germany of 'Rude Awakening' in New Message (Sky News, Times) - Germany looks like it could very well be the next nation to fall out of the ISAF coalition. In recent weeks, the death of German troops and an air strike on Taliban fuel thieves that ended up killing some civilians has made Afghanistan a major campaign issue. Let's hope that what happened in Spain in '04, doesn't happen in Germany in '09.

Times: Analysis: the flaws in McChrystal's strategy

Guardian: Afghanistan troop numbers data: how many does each country send to the Nato mission there?

Times: A vision of victory in Afghanistan

Times: Afghanistan: the options and recommendations

LA Times: CIA expanding presence in Afghanistan

AFP: Japan's new FM hints at more aid for Afghanistan

CNN: Karzai backs U.S. military call for more troops

Times: Fighting a losing battle? British forces are worn down by the Taleban and lack of support at home

AFP: US weighs less ambitious options in Afghan war - My understanding is that they want to increase the drone war. This is frustrating, in that it ignores the lessons learned from the wars in the Balkans: no amount of air power replaces boots on the ground.

Questionably Timed Arms Reduction

Guardian: Obama ready to slash US nuclear arsenal

Britain to scale back Trident nuclear program from four to three subs (CNN, BBC, Times, AFP, Guardian)

Russia and Neighbors

Times: Dirty war rages on Russia's doorstep

Guardian: Europe must stand up for Georgia

AFP: Ukraine needs west to safeguard independence: Yushchenko

UPI: MiG probe undercuts Russia's arms push