THE AMERICAS :

International Herald Tribune, 10 Jul 08, by Neil A. Lewis
U.S. spy cases raise concern on China's intentions
'Bergersen and Kuo, along with a third accomplice, are awaiting sentencing in a federal court for their involvement in one of many cases brought in the last year involving the illegal transfer of information to China. The cases have intensified the evaluation in American intelligence and law enforcement circles about the breadth of the threat from Beijing.'

International Herald Tribune, 09 Jul 08, by Eric Lichtblau
U.S. Senate backs wiretap bill to shield phone companies
'More than two and a half years after the disclosure of President's Bush's domestic eavesdropping program set off a furious national debate, the Senate gave final approval on Wednesday afternoon to broadening the government's spy powers and providing legal immunity for the phone companies that took part in the wiretapping program.'

International Herald Tribune, 01 Jul 08, by William Glaberson
U.S. court overturns Pentagon's case against Guantánamo detainee
'In the first case to review the U.S. government's secret evidence for holding a detainee at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, a U.S. appeals court found that accusations against a Chinese man held for more than six years had been based on bare and unverifiable claims.'

The Economist, 03 Jul 08
Colombia's hostage triumph
'The government scores a big success against the FARC, freeing Ingrid Betancourt and other hostages.'

International Herald Tribune, 01 Jul 08, by Janine Zacharia, Bloomberg News
U.S. forced to confront its Bolivian problem
'As the United States has shifted its focus to hot spots like the Middle East and North Korea, coca growth has increased in Latin America, defying U.S.-funded eradication efforts. And President George W. Bush hasn't been able to get Congress to pass free- trade deals with Colombia and Panama, disappointing these allies.'

NewsHour, 27 Jun 08, with Kwame Holman et al
Long Legislative Fight Led to Iraq War Funding Bill
'In 2006, Democrats took over Congress with a promise to bring U.S. troops home. Kwame Holman looks at what's happened since then and the legislative fight over a bill to fund the Iraq and Afghan wars.'

International Herald Tribune, 24 Jun 08, by James Glanz
Government study criticizes Bush administration's measures of progress in Iraq
'Beyond the declines in overall violence in Iraq, several crucial measures the Bush administration uses to demonstrate economic, political and security progress are either incorrect or far more mixed than the administration has acknowledged, according to a report released Monday by the Government Accountability Office.'

International Herald Tribune, 26 Jun 08, by Austin Bogues
Laptop searches at U.S. airports draw fire at Senate hearing
'The U.S. government says the searches are necessary for national security and for legal action against people who bring illegal material into the country.'

Washington Post, 19 Jun 08
GAO Criticizes U.S. Strategy on Afghan Forces
'After six years and $16.5 billion in spending, the Defense and State departments still lack a "sustainable strategy" for developing Afghanistan's army and police force, government auditors said yesterday. ... In a written response, the Pentagon said the program was "well-reasoned [and] successful ... despite numerous challenges" and disagreed with a GAO recommendation that Congress consider conditioning future funding on the development of a more comprehensive strategy.'

News Hour, 12 Jun 08, with Jeffrey Brown et al
Justices Rule Terror Suspects Can Appeal Detentions
'A Supreme Court ruling Thursday granted Guantanamo detainees the right to challenge their cases in civilian courts. Experts examine the case and its impact on anti-terror efforts.'

New York Times, 12 Jun 08, by Adam Liptak
Unlike Others, U.S. Defends Freedom to Offend in Speech
'As more countries move to ban or restrict hate speech, some legal scholars say the U.S. should reconsider the broad scope of First Amendment protection.'

International Herald Tribune, 11 Jun 08, by Scott Shane
Congress presses interrogation issue with administration officials
'In a flurry of oversight that some critics say comes years too late, Congress is pressing Bush administration officials on a still unanswered question: How did the United States come to embrace harsh interrogation methods it had always shunned?'

International Herald Tribune, 10 Jun 08, by Simon Romero
Timely reversals show Chávez's political instincts
'Venezuelan democracy may be fragile, but it does serve as a check on President Hugo Chávez, who has withdrawn a much-criticized overhaul of the intelligence services and ended his support for the leftist rebels of neighboring Colombia.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 04 Jun 08
U.S. to make foreign visitors register online
'The United States said Tuesday that visitors from closely allied countries like Britain and Japan will soon have to register personal details online at least three days before they arrive. The U.S. homeland security secretary, Michael Chertoff, who announced the changes Tuesday, said they would help the United States boost the security of its visa-free travel program by allowing the government to screen visitors before they travel.'

International Herald Tribune, 04 Jun 08, by Helene Cooper and Isabel Kershner
Rice calls Iran talks pointless while enrichment continues
'Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice escalated the Bush administration's anti-Iran rhetoric, accusing its government of pursuing nuclear weapons and calling any dialogue with its leaders pointless until they suspend the country's enrichment of uranium.'

National Post, 05 Jun 08, by Sheldon Alberts, Canwest News Service
Israel's Security 'Sacrosanct': Obama
'Barack Obama vowed yesterday to do "everything" in his power as U. S. president to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb, but said the United States should not fear "aggressive, principled diplomacy" with the regime's leadership. In a major foreign policy ... Mr. Obama also sought to reassure Jewish leaders he has an "unshakable commitment" to Israel's security.'

International Herald Tribune, 03 Jun 08, by Michael Cooper
McCain sharpens his foreign policy attacks on Obama
'... Senator John McCain honed his national security message before Jewish leaders on Monday, saying Senator Barack Obama's policies toward Iraq and Iran would create chaos in the Middle East and endanger the United States and Israel.'

International Herald Tribune/AP, 04 Jun 08
Concerns after top U.S. nuclear weapons lab lays off hundreds
'The top U.S. nuclear weapons design lab has laid off hundreds of workers, raising concerns about a brain drain and stirring fears that some of these highly specialized scientists will sell their expertise to foreign governments, perhaps hostile ones.'

International Herald Tribune, 03 Jun 08, by Simon Romero
Chávez decree tightens hold on intelligence
'Sweeping changes to Venezuela's intelligence agencies by President Hugo Chávez have provoked concerns that citizens will be forced to inform on one another.'

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