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A careful selection and summary of editorials, commentaries, and analyses from the world’s leading newspapers and magazines to help you stay on top of the latest debates and developments in the transatlantic agenda. See list of monitoring sources.
Readers can also see how the perspectives and priorities diverge in different regions.

Pakistani Intelligence Battles Internal Extremism

Pakistan can no longer play its "dangerous double-game": accepting money form the US while also supporting the Taliban and other extremists. ++ General Kayani has appointed a new spy chief, Lt. Gen Ahmed Shuja, who must work to clean up the intelligence service, root out corrupt officials, and cut ties to extremists that threaten Pakistan's own fragile democracy. ++ American officials claim that certain members of Pakistan's intelligence service played a role in the bombing of the Indian Embassy in Kabul.

Economic Crisis Provides Cover for Military Blunders

By odd coincidence, or perhaps providence, $700bn is roughly the same amount of money squandered on Bush's "preposterous war in Iraq." ++ Ironically, the greatest economic crises since the great depression means Obama and McCain won't have to discuss the "greatest military crisis in America's history since Vietnam." ++ This has provided the cover for a strange narrative developing in the US: the surge was a success, victory in Afghanistan was achieved over five years ago, and arms sales to Israel are at unprecedented levels.

Obama Needs Foreign Policy Revamp

Obama's foreign policy proposals are too vapid; far from incipient or novel, we are subjected to his recycled ideas - which, albeit, were fresh when first espoused in the face of Bush dogmatism. ++ "These ideas have lost their oomph among discerning voters." ++ Catching Bin Laden, sending more troops to Afghanistan, and unconditional support for Georgia are all calls from the neocon playbook. ++ "More ideas, more energy, [and] more optimism" are needed from Obama. ++ To deliver the knockout blow, he'll have to "think outside the beltway."

The US Needs a Global Line of Credit

The US is following a pattern similar to Japan’s financial crisis in the 1990s, but ignoring the principles and method with which to handle it. ++ Unlimited liquidity in the market is needed and the world should help share the burden. ++ The US must ask the global community to provide $5 trillion for troubled financial institutions. ++ This should come from those who have collected dollar reserves like China, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, and the EU. ++ Someday, when the crisis passes, a global system must be made to prevent such mistakes.

Paulson 0, Democracy 1

"It is a glorious day for democracy." ++ With all members of the House up for re-election in November, the rejection of the Paulson plan is a clear indication of the American public will - Wall Street must be accountable, not the tax payers. ++ Americans distrust the Bush administration, question its trickle-down economic theory, and fear more allocations of public funds to political favorites, such as bailing out Goldman Sachs, Paulson's former company. ++ Congress must now create a plan to help tax payers keep their homes.

The End of US Arrogance

By talking about terrorism instead of the financial crises in front of the UN, Bush has staged himself as "yesterday's man." ++ Even Germany - one of America's closest allies - is distancing itself from the US and blames the state for opposing tighter international market controls. ++ German politicians do not see the US as the "superpower of the global financial system" anymore. ++ The view might be shared in the US where nobody trusts US values, politicians, or economic leaders. ++ This is obviously the end of US arrogance.

Kangaroos to Help Against Climate Change

Australians should replace eating beef and lamb with kangaroo meat in order to fight climate change. ++ Marsupials, such as Kangaroos, produce low-emission waste and have less biophysical impact on water scarcity. ++ Kangaroo had been the main source of meat for most Australians for 60,000 years and could make a come back. ++ The switch should be relatively easy, both on farms and in homes, but the proposed emissions trading scheme (ETS) may create difficulties. ++ Agriculture should be included in an ETS as soon as possible.

European Political System is Broken

This past weekend, three in ten Austrians voted for far-right parties; Bavaria's CSU dipped beneath the 50 percent mark; and Lithuania's populist parties, despite links with the Kremlin, polled strong. ++ This is what happens when mainstream parties build coalitions - voters are driven to the fringes. ++ The lesson for "Europe's mainstream politicians is to compete, not to collaborate." ++ Voters want a diversity of choice. ++ Mainstream coalitions are now forced to consider fringe parties as partners, in some cases legitimizing extremism.

Obama Promises a Better Environmental Future

Obama’s overall environmental record is shorter, but looks better than McCain’s. ++ Both want to use technology that is not ready and neither plan is as clear as it should be, but Obama wants to move the country away from oil as quickly as possible while McCain will leave it up to the market. ++ Obama plans to implement a cap-and-trade system and enforce strict transportation mandates. ++ Drilling is still the top strategy listed in McCain’s energy plan. ++ “Sometimes ‘market-based’ is just a code word for doing nothing.”

Financial Anger the World Over, but Misguided

Anger stemming from the financial mess is ubiquitous; the biggest backlash comes from outside the Anglo-American world and is directed at their unique type of capitalism. ++ The disparity between individualism and solidarity is the primary cause. ++ Markets are not perfect, nor are Adam Smith's theories. ++ "Arm's-length finance," a distinctly Anglo-American style, has made headway on the European continent; the "old boy's" network is simply "hitting back." ++ If Anglo-American capitalism fades, the decision will come from Washington.