US troop numbers could depend on Afghan election re-run; Dozens die in Iran bombings; Pakistan army try to crush Taliban insurgency; Gordon Brown says 'Copenhagen deal must make history'; and more

Top of the Agenda: Afghan Elections Affecting U.S. Policy

The Obama administration signaled it may wait (NYT) until the results of the Afghan elections are finalized to make a decision as to whether to send additional troops to Afghanistan.

On CNN's State of the Union, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said the United States wants assurance that it will have a "credible Afghan partner for this process that can provide the security and the type of services that the Afghan people need."

Separately, the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission, investigating electoral fraud allegations in Afghanistan, will release its findings (VOA) Monday. The commission could reject enough fraudulent ballots so that incumbent President Hamid Karzai's vote count drops below 50 percent, which could force a runoff with opponent Abdullah Abdullah.

Analysis

The coordinator of President Obama's original Afghan policy, Bruce Riedel, says the Taliban and al-Qaeda maintain a lethal alliance that U.S.-led forces must defeat in Afghanistan.

Background

The New York Times looks at the U.S. struggle to cut off the Taliban's financial support network, and notes that in recent months foreign donations have been the largest source of funding for the Taliban, not opium.

The Washington Post reports on an increase in training of Western terror recruits in camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan, despite targeted U.S. strikes.

 

PACIFIC RIM: North Korean Aid

A South Korean official said the country will not provide (Yonhap) any significant aid to North Korea, despite Pyongyang's request for humanitarian assistance. North Korea, which faces rampant poverty, presented the request during talks over cross-border family reunions last week.

China: China will launch its Nasdaq-style Growth Enterprise Market (WSJ) on October 23, according to China Securities Regulatory Commission Chairman Shang Fulin. An initial twenty-eight companies will begin trading a week later.

CFR's Steve Dunaway says China must implement reforms to its economic model and rule of law.

 

ELSEWHERE:

Suicide attacks target Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
Pakistan launches major offensive in South Waziristan.
Gordon Brown calls for climate action.

 

This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org