Foreign and Defense Policy

We mentioned several newstories in class on Wednesday: diplomacy over Sudan, diplomacy over Iran, and the role of free trade. And in defense policy, the story about our desire to build a laser to zap satellites of other countries.

The NY Tikes also reports Taliban Threat Is Said to Grow in Afghan South -- while the US is withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, to be replaced by NATO peacekeepers:

The fact that American troops are pulling out of southern Afghanistan in the coming months, and handing matters over to NATO peacekeepers, who have repeatedly stated that they are not going to fight terrorists, has given a lift to the insurgents, and increased the fears of Afghans.

The article makes clear this is a crucial moment in the life of the Afghan government:

The arrival of large numbers of Taliban in the villages, flush with money and weapons, has dealt a blow to public confidence in the Afghan government, already undermined by lack of tangible progress and frustration with corrupt and ineffective leaders.... [One] resident, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, said the Taliban['s]... brazenness and the failure of the United States-led coalition to deter them is turning public opinion about the effectiveness of the government.