Le Monde, France Obama Continues Tradition of Sparing Turkeys from Oven TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “This year's birds from a farm in Virginia, both plump and white, were transported with police escort to the W, where for two days they were treated with kid gloves. And that's no figure of speech. The turkeys are housed in a suite with views of the White House, are force-fed cranberries and organic soy while gobbling in the rooftop panoramic bar waiting to be taken to Obama on Wednesday.” — CORRESPONDENT Helene Vissiere A REPRIEVE FOR INNOCENT

Le Monde, France U.S. Republicans Learn Again: American Jews are Not Israelis TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Once again the Nov. 6 election dealt a blow to the widely peddled myth that this is an electoral group with simplistic political behavior: that American Jews would back the candidate most swayed by Israeli politics. It has again been shown - nothing could be further from the truth. — COLUMNIST Alain Frachon ANOTHER PAINFUL LESSON RELEARNED

Telegraph, U.K. Barack Obama Blunders Again on the Global Stage “It is rather embarrassing, as well as sad, that the leader of the free world can’t even pronounce the name of the most famous human rights activist on earth. Or that he is so quick to appease the Burma regime by calling it 'Myanmar.'” — COLUMNIST Nile Gardiner IS OBAMA A CLUELESS STATESMAN?

The Independent, U.K. Hamas, Israel Open 'Gates of Hell' in Gaza Yet Again
FOOL CYCLE	“Is there nothing to stop this nonsense, this garbage war? Hundreds of rockets fall on Israel. True. Thousands of acres of land are stolen from Arabs – for Jews and Jews only. There isn't enough land left there now for a Palestinian state.” —COLUMNIST Robert Fisk

ECONOMIST: For Netanyahu,
Obama is 'Wrong American'
INDEPENDENT: 'Land of the
Flee': Why Americans are
Renouncing U.S. Citizenship

Kommersant, Russia Romney's 'Caveman Statements' No Longer a Worry for Kremlim TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “The reelection of U.S. President Barack Obama will allow many in Moscow to take a sigh of relief: the Cold War is canceled. This is, in fact, what the 2012 American presidential campaign means for Moscow.” — COLUMNIST Sergei Strokan WILL PUTIN PLAY BALL IN TERM TWO?

Les Echos, France China's Leadership Transition No Match Next to America's TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Referring to the multitude of U.S. citizens who went door to door canvassing for votes for their respective camps, despite the obstacles put in their way by institutions or forces of nature - Obama described in the most direct manner, the nobility of democracy. Men and women free to mobilize and express themselves and change the course of their destiny. That evening, America's 'soft power' won a KO over Chinese rule. — COLUMNIST Dominique Moisi A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRANSITION

Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany 'Thank You America': Now Mr. Obama Has to Deliver TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “The world is still waiting for Nobel Peace laureate Barack Obama to earn his prize. But the American people made a good choice. ... Thank you.” — COLUMNIST Holger Schmale MAKING IT HAPPEN IN ROUND TWO

La Stampa, Italy Obama's Last Campaign TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “There are armchairs in which it is not good to sit for too long. 'We new men are no better than those who came before us,' confessed Emperor Hadrian. 'Power only serves to soil us.' — COLUMNIST Massimo Gramellini ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS

La Stampa, Italy America's $5 Billion Election Race: A Sign of 'Nastier' Things to Come? TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “A first indicator of things to come can already be seen: even in the age of social media, election campaigns continue to pour most of their cash into television - and it seems they are becoming increasingly nasty” — COLUMNIST Marco Bardazzi

Rzeczpospolita, Poland Obama's Victory: 'Somehow, Poles will Have to Live with it' TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “Romney's declarations gave us more hope - but he lost. Unfortunately, Mr. Obama has a long track record of failing to satisfy the desires of Poles.” — COLUMNIST Andrzej Talaga POLISH WISHES DASHED BY OBAMA

Le Monde, France Obama Victory Exposes Hubris of Sarkozy and French Right TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “When Sarkozy's friend, Jean Michel Goudard, returning from a trip to the United States as summer turned to autumn, deemed the reelection of Barack Obama 'likely,' Sarkozy refused to believe him - even giving Goudard the cold shoulder for a few days. It was impossible. It had to be impossible. ... But yes! It was indeed possible!” — COLUMNIST Francoise Fressoz NO MORE EXCUSES FOR NICOLAS SARKOZY

The Independent, U.K. After the Battle, the Wake: Inquest and Drink for Reeling Romneyites “Critics are suggest Romney's campaign foundered at the hands of amateurs. Moreover, it will take some time to digest the depths of the catastrophe that befell them.” — COLUMNIST David Usborne HIGH HOPES; AN APPALLING END

INDEPENDENT: Obama
Readies to Build Bridges, but
First He Needs New Allies
GUARDIAN: One Final
Gaffe: 'President' Mitt's
Victory Web Site Goes Live
INDEPEDENT: Cameron
Gets Through to Obama -
but Only for Five Minutes

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. The 'Tribal Grunts' of Left and Right Will Not Rescue Us
MONUMENTAL	“Never can the toolkit of political debate have been so empty and the task of understanding the world so titanic.” —COLUMNIST Simon Jenkins

Hospodarske Noviny, Czech Republic Obama's Reelection Means More Bad News for Europe TRANSLATED FROM CZECH “In purely pragmatic and political terms, as seen from the White House, why would the old/new president cultivate special ties with the old/sick continent? ... Consequently, in his second term, his views on Europe will be even more skeptical and detached.” — COLUMNIST Martin Ehl NOT ALL CHEERS IN EUROPE

Liberation, France After 'Giving Us a Scare', Barack Obama Wins Again TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Americans preferred to maintain the same imperfect balance and uncertain plans of the incumbent over the economic voodoo of his riskier Republican opponent. And rightly so.” — COLUMNIST Francois Sergent A VOTE OF FRENCH APPROVAL

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Wall St. Tumbles and 80,000 Greeks Protest After Obama Victory “The sale and speed of the rout has surprised traders. The looming U.S. fiscal cliff, the crisis in Europe, and the weak state of the global economy are being blamed.” — ESSAYIST R. Jay Magill, Jr.

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Mitt Romney Betrayed By Hardline Republicans “Tea Party zealots, homophobes and misogynists hijacked Romney's campaign – and threaten the Republican party's future.” — COLUMNIST Simon Tisdall PRESIDENT OBAMA: WHY HE WON

TELEGRAPH VIDEO: Where Did it
All Go Wrong for Republicans?
GUARDIAN, U.K.: The U.S.
Election: a View from the Sofa
ECONOMIST: Obama's Win
Raises Questions for Republicans

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Obama's Second Victory is More Low Key, but in Some Respects, More Impressive
OBAMA REDUX	“The euphoria of 2008 has gone, but the U.S. president's second win is remarkable precisely because it isn't as symbolic.” —COLUMNIST Gary Younge

Le Nouvel Observateur, France Government Backing for Obama Not in the French National Interest TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “If Obama wins, the premier's statement would not lead the White House chief to favor Paris; and if Romney wins (and his chances aren't slim), the new president would be only too happy to give 'Frenchies' the cold shoulder. ... There is only one explanation for this curious 'vote.' They want to ride France's pro-Obama wave.” — EDITORIAL, Le Nouvel Observateur ALL IN FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA

Der Spiegel, Germany The Role of Sincerity in the American Elections “It might be nice to know that your dentist is generous, but it is irrelevant to the endeavor of cleaning your teeth. Is the same true of the role of sincerity in politics? The current campaign in the U.S. has seen candidates eager to portray themselves as being as sincere as possible. Voters shouldn't be led astray.” — ESSAYIST R. Jay Magill, Jr. DO THEY REALLY FEEL OUR PAIN?

The Telegraph, U.K. Nate Silver is 'Partisan and wrong.' Voters Will Decide, not The New York Times “In the history of presidential elections, has there ever been such an effort by one side to poll their way to victory? While the Republicans have spoken this season about jobs and debt – willing themselves to a moral victory – the Democrats have talked constantly about how well their candidate is polling.” — COLUMNIST Tim Stanley IS THIS MAN AN ELECTION THIEF?

TELEGRAPH: Hurricane Sandy:
President Obama Warns
of Liklihood of Fatalities
TELEGRAPH: Hurricane Sandy
- How Apple's Siri Screwed Up
TELEGRAPH: Hillary Clinton
and Michelle Obama: The
Queens of Washington D.C.
DAILY MAIL: She's on Her
Way! Hurricane Sandy 200
Miles from New Jersey Coast

Izvestia, Russia Russell Means Reminded World of ' Real America' TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “I don't know what his life teaches Americans. But for me, he was the figure who links the America we know from history books to the America of today. ... Means made it possible to respect this country. It turned out that everything we loved about it as children was more than just a shadow on a film screen, but a physical reality.” — COLUMNIST Orhan Jemal RUSSELL MEANS: DEFINING 'AMERICAN'

Die Tageszeitung, Germany Planet 'Paralyzed' Before Power Transitions in the United States and China TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “It is appalling to see the world in suspended animation, just because the two most powerful nations are busy with themselves.” — COLUMNIST Dominic Johnson NAIL BITING OVER U.S. AND CHINA

Izvestia, Russia If Romney Wins: 'Russia- U.S. Ties Won't Sour, they Will Come to a Standstill' TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “Every claim Romney has made about Russia has been clearly laid out: it is a country standing in the way of America in settling the Iran issue; it is a country toward which America must show resolve and toughness. This is repeated time after time, because Romney in fact has no position on Russia, and has no idea what to do with it.” — COLUMNIST Fyodor Lukyanov A RUSSIAN 'VOTE' FOR OBAMA

ODIHR, Poland Texas' Threat to Arrest OSCE Election Observers Violates U.S. Obligations “The threat of criminal sanctions against OSCE/ODIHR observers is unacceptable. The United States, like all countries in the OSCE, has an obligation to invite ODIHR observers to observe its elections.” — Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, Director of OSCE Office of Democratic Democratic Institutions, Human Rights

La Stampa: Italy Europe Goes Missing in Obama- Romney Foreign Policy Debate TRANSLATED FROM ITALY “It's striking how American increasingly gazes across the Pacific rather than the Atlantic. Of course, Europe has been discussed in previous debates (almost always negatively) when dealing with economic issues. But when it comes to major global issues, in Washington's eyes, everything European is, at least for now, of secondary importance.” — COLUMNIST Marco Bardazzi

La Stampa, Italy No One Can Claim Americans Don't Have a Genuine Choice TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “No repeating the old cliche, 'Voting is pointless since nothing changes.' As in the 2013 elections in Germany and Italy, this time the results really matter. ... Americans will make their choice in freedom. It is a ritual that some snobs like to scorn as 'ideology,' but whose real name is 'democracy.'” — COLUMNIST Gianni Riotta A SOUND SYSTEM FOR PICKING LEADERS?

Polytika: Poland A Shattering Fall from Grace: 'Dr. Armstrong and Mr. Hyde' TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “French fans had little love for the American - to put it mildly. They accused him of wicked deeds of doping. It turns out they were right.” — COLUMNIST Krzysztof Matlak

IRISH EXAMINER: Lance
Armstrong - Once Again,
Action 'Too Little, Too Late
GUARDIAN: Armstrong Loses
Titles as UCI President
Lashes Out at 'Scumbags'
DE VOLKSKRANT, NETHERLANDS:
Holier-Than Thou Critics have
Nothing on Lance Armstrong
CHALLENGES, FRANCE:
The High Cost of Lance
Armstrong's Downfall
LA STMPA, ITALY: Lance
Armstrong Gives Italy a
Sense of Legal Superiority
INDEPENDENT, IRELAND:
Lance Armstrong: 'Big
Reveal' of Cancer Jesus

Liberation, France Europe Draws Just a Single 'Derogatory Reference' in U.S. Presidential Debate TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “And where was Europe in all this? Not far from Australia in the battle for the position of most forgotten continent. ...” — COLUMNIST Lorraine Millot EUROPE LEFT OUT - ALMOST

Corriere Della Sera, Italy 'Obama Prototype': Rome's Black Emperor, Septimius Severus TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “Since 1776, when America proclaimed its independence, it has been considered the 'Second Rome.' ... Since 2008, the year Obama was elected America's first Black president, the country has had another reason to identify itself with ancient Rome. The Roman Empire, the most multiracial and multicultural in history, also had an Obama prototype: Septimius Severus, the Empire's first Black emperor.” — COLUMNIST Ennio Caretto BARACK OBAMA: NOT SO NOVEL?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Obama Fires, Romney Falters, but 3rd Debate Fails to find a Flourish
OBAMA TKO	“The president did better than an unconvincing Romney – but it's hard to imagine this changed minds or won hearts.” —COLUMNIST Gary Younge

BBC NEWS: Global Poll Shows
Rest of World Favors Obama
GUARDIAN, U.K.: Trump
Primes Media for 'Bombshell'
TELEGRAPH: Presidential
Candidates Go to War in
Third and Final Debate
ECONOMIST: A Win for Obama

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Obama vs. Romney: Third Debate in Gifs “It's finished. Obama came off as more confident and coherent on foreign policy ... but Romney survived fairly unscathed. Obama less aggressive than the second debate. Romney less aggressive than the first. In all, a little dull.” — REPORTER Adam Gabbatt PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE GIFS

Independent, U.K. Legacy of Imperialism Still Haunts Every Street in City of Rome
U.S. - ROME	“It is difficult to disagree about the imperial power of America and the 'civilized' values we chaps are still trying to teach those chaps in the Arab world.” —COLUMNIST Robert Fisk

GUARDIAN: Obama Beats Romney
to Prize for Self-Deprecation
GUARDIAN: U.S. Election
Show is Lame, but the
Outcome May be Dramatic
GUARDIAN: Israel's Cranes
Reprove Obama's Failure
to Seek Two-State Solution
TELEGRAPH: Florida War
Veterans Split Between
Obama and Romney
TELEGRAPH: Mitt Romney
Must Exploit Benghazi
TELEGRAPH: Reliance
on Wall St. Funds Mute
Debate on Financial Rules

Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia Why the Islamic Sauron Beats U.S. Mickey Mouse TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “The leader of a democratic country cannot, like Stalin, stigmatize Hitler today, and then sign a pact with him to divide Europe tomorrow. ... in terms of lies and violence, totalitarianism is more effective than democracy.” — COLUMNIST Yulia Latinina WHEN DESPOTS HAVE AN EDGE

Gazeta, Russia 'Cold War Reanimators' Like Romney are Poor Role Models for Europe TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “The black and white Cold War mentality looks all the more absurd in the context of the tectonic shifts taking place before our eyes ... Mitt Romney, who readily repeats his idea that Russia is America's leading foe, is the only such politician- reanimator of that ilk today.” — COLUMNIST Fyodor Lukyanov BATTLE FOR THE PRESIDENCY

Die Welt, Germany 'Enraged' at Soviets, Castro Used Ex-Nazis in Cuban Missile Crisis TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Castro wrote a sharp letter of protest about Moscow's giving in [to Kennedy]. The Cuban revolutionary also refused to return his heavy Soviet arms, blaming Stalin's envoy for betraying Cuba.” — REPORTER Sven Felix Kellerhoff SOVIET FEARS OVER CASTRO

Jyllands Posten, Denmark VIDEO: Danish Operative on Penetrating al-Qaeda; Locating Anwar al-Awlaki Oct. 16, 00:12:11 "The idea was to find someone [a wife] with the same mentality as him, so that both would be killed in a U.S. drone attack.” — Morton Storm , Undercover Danish Operative SETTING A TRAP FOR AL-QAEDA

FTD, Germany It is Beginning of the End for Bundeswehr's Afghanistan Mission TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “With 52 deaths so far, it has been the bloodiest deployment of German troops since the end of World War II. But it is over. ... skepticism is growing about what progress will remain once foreign troops have left.” — CORRESPONDENT Joachim Zepelin ENDING A HISTORIC DEPLOYMENT

Der Spiegel, Germany American Lobbyists Face Off with E.U. on Data Privacy “The U.S., Google and Facebook have begun a lobbying offensive against an E.U. data privacy law that would strengthen user rights to have personal data deleted.” — Der Spiegel News Item

La Stampa, Italy Lance Armstrong Gives Italy a Sense of Legal Superiority TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “With this sordid backdrop, there is a consolation. ... In Italy, the fight against doping makes no concessions: if Armstrong had lived in Italy, he may have been caught more quickly than he was in the United States.” — COLUMNIST Marco Ansaldo ITALY JUSTICE LOOKS ON WITH PRIDE

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Obama vs. Romney: Second Debate in Gifs “Romney has been rather pugnacious at points. Here he gestures towards the president when talking about the tragic events in Benghazi, Libya. But the strong posturing backfired.” — REPORTER Adam Gabbatt PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE GIFS

The Independent, U.K. Obama Went Aggressive - and Looked Offensive
OBAMA-ROMNEY	“Time and again, he interrupted both Romney and the moderator. He may not have sniggered and laughed out loud but there was an air of the Joe Biden playbook.” —COLUMNIST Janet Daley

INDEPENDENT: Fired-Up Obama
Takes Offensive in Crucial Debate

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Self-Assured Obama Recovers; Balances Style and Substance
BACK IN GAME	“Romney puts up fight against more decisive opponent but can't overcome the president's sharp delivery.” —COLUMNIST Gary Younge

DAILY MAIL: Obama Comes
Out Swinging in 'Ugly' Debate
TELEGRAPH: Romney
Called 'Flip-Flopper' by
Father's Former Aide
TELEGRAPH: Interactive
Graphic: U.S. Election
Super PAC Contributors
BBC NEWS: Barack Obama
'Did What he had to Do'
ECONOMIST: An Aggressive
Obama-Romney Rematch

The Telegraph, U.K. Computer Hacker that Sought U.S. UFO Data will Not be Extradited “The shock decision will be hailed as a big milestone for those who have campaigned against the perceived one- sided nature of Britian's extradition pact with the U.S.” — REPORTER Michael White UFO WIKILEAKER REPRIEVE

VIDEO: Interview with Gary McKinnon
on Why He Hacked Pentagon Computers

The Independent, U.K. List of 25 Richest People in History Has 14 Americans “Few will have thought, or even heard of, Mansa Musa I of Mali, an obscure 14th century African king who was today named the richest person in history.” — REPORTER John Hall JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER

Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany Mitt Romney and America's 'Medieval' Calvinist Upsurge TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Isn't Romney one of those people who gave us the worst economic crisis since 1929? Instead of unity and a sense of community, a self- righteous anger is directed at the victims of the crisis - at the losers, the penniless, the bankrupt, and the millions put into the street as a result of home foreclosures - and at the government, which has undertaken to assist them.” — COLUMNIST Andrian Kreye ROMNEY: TOO CRUEL TO BE KIND?

The Independent, U.K. Karadzic: 'I'm No Criminal – I was Saving the Innocent' “Mothers of victims of the Srebrenica massacre watching from the public gallery snorted in derision and shock, shouting out 'He's lying! He's lying!'” — CORRESPONDENT Peter Popham HOPING FOR GROUP AMNESIA

de Volkskrant, The Netherlands Holier-Than Thou Critics have Nothing on Lance Armstrong TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH “Anyone in a bicycle seat during those years with the aim of winning big races had little choice. Talent and training zeal weren't enough. ... It would be tempting and far too easy to consider doping to be the ultimate proof of depravity, and peddle our own versions of moral superiority from the comfort of our chairs.” — COLUMNIST Bert Wagendorp TOO HARD ON ARMSTRONG?

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland With Romney in Office, 'War More Likely to Happen' TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “Americans or Israelis will bomb Iran's nuclear facilities, but this won't finish it. Iran would inevitably fire rockets at Israel and ask its friends from Lebanese Hezbullah to do the same. What comes next is anyone's guess.” — COLUMNIST Mariusz Zawadzki READING THE TEA LEAVES

Der Spiegel, Germany Biden Bares His Teeth “If there were no Joe Biden, we journalists would have to invent one. His verbal slipups can't be beat. ... But at the debate, Biden put up exactly the kind of spirited fight that the Obama campaign needs.” — COLUMNIST Gregor Peter Schmitz

The Independent, U.K. 'Bunch of Malarky': Biden Goes on the Attack to Pull it Back for the Democrats
U.S. RUMBLE	“A boisterous Joe Biden led a riproaring counterattack on Republicans, using his debate with Paul Ryan to repeatedly criticize - and openly laugh at – his opponents' policies.” —COLUMNIST Rupert Cornwell

GUARDIAN: Biden and Ryan
'Fight to a Bloodied Draw'

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Joe Biden and Paul Ryan: Vice Presidential Debate as Seen in Gifs “Gifwise, it's definitely been Biden's night.” — CORRESPONDENT Adam Gabbatt THE VP DEBATE IN GIFS

Der Groene, The Netherlands The 'Nostalgic' Electorate TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH “Not only in America but across the West, many voters are in a state of confusion. They sense that relationships around the world are changing dramatically, to the detriment of Western power. They want to go back, and there are politicians who, with lots of empty promises, are at the beck and call of this nostalgic electorate.” — COLUMNIST H.J.A. Hofland AMERICANS: BACK TO THE FUTURE?

Sol, Portugal Western Apologists for Islamic Extremists are Just as Guilty TRANSLATED FROM PORTUGUESE “What so puzzles me is the sight of Islamists invading embassies and killing people, all in the name of their religion, without a word from advocates of freedom.” — COLUMNIST Vitor Rainho FREEDOMS OF CONVENIENCE?

La Repubblica, Italy Game Change Debate: President Obama Comes Across as 'Non-Leader' TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “He kept his eyes down and flashed smiles too wide to have been sincere. Then he embarked on complicated explanations to justify his actions in the White House, which made him look like a president should never look: as if he were a 'non leader.'” — COLUMNIST Vittorio Zucconi

El Pais, Spain A President Romney Will Come to Regret Damaging Remark about Our Nation TRANSLATED FROM SPANISH “If Romney is made president, the phrase 'I don't want to go down the path to Spain,' which he delivered at the worst time in Spain's recent history, will haunt him whenever he must have contact with our country.” — COLUMNIST Antonio Cano JUST WORDS SPOKEN IN HASTE?

Handelsblatt, Germany For Germany, a Romney Win 'Would Have its Advantages' TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “In Germany four years ago, he would have been able to count on 80 to 90 percent of the vote. To Germans, after the leaden Bush years, the new president seemed hip, smart, empathetic, and liberal - and altogether more European than his predecessor. Today, German enthusiasm for Obama has cooled quite significantly .” — COLUMNIST Wolfram Weimer GERMANS WARMING TO ROMNEY?

El Mundo, Spain Romney Lies About State Expenditures in the U.S. and Spain TRANSLATED FROM SPANISH “America has always spent between one and three percentage points less than Spain on the state, and that hasn’t changed ... under Obama, the U.S. is cutting government spending at a faster rate than Spain, and according to the IMF, this year the margin will again be less than it was in George Bush's last budget.” — COLUMNIST Pablo Pardo

El Semanal, Spain Spain Asserts that it has 'Little to Envy' in Regard to the American People TRANSLATED FROM SPANISH “This is a country is too big not to be better understood by some. But don’t you worry, we will try to explain it to them. I think we have very little to envy when it comes to other peoples, and that includes the Americans. ... And by the way, we are also very proud of our welfare state.” — Deputy Prime Minister Monsyer Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría ROMNEY DRAWS SPANISH IRE

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Syria and Turkey: How Long can Great Powers Sit on their Hands? “The do-nothing hand-wringing favored by Turkey's allies may not be politically sustainable as the Syrian crisis spreads.” — COLUMNIST Simon Tisdall

El Pais, Spain Mitt Romney and Spain: Is Ours a Failing Brand? TRANSLATED FROM SPANISH “Romney could have used other examples, but he didn't; he gave the example of Spain, and everyone seemed to understand the the subliminal message.” — COLUMNIST Antonio Estella SWIPE AT SPAIN HITS NERVE

The Telegraph, U.K. Romney's Debate Victory Spooks Mainstream Media “No longer can he be dismissed with a gag about a dog strapped to his car roof. This uptight rich guy could be the next president.” — CORRESPONDENT Tim Stanley THINGS GOING JUST AS PLANNED?

Le Figaro, France Pro-Obama Media Suffers Major Defeat TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Unable up to now to look at Obama as critically as they evaluate Romney, journalists will now have to take account of the a good performance a man they will not vote for.” — COLUMNIST Pierre-Yves Dugua 'IN THE TANK' FOR OBAMA?

Independent, U.K. Download, Print, Fire: U.S. Gun Rights Effort Utilizes 3D Technology “Imagine an America in which anyone can download and print a gun in their own home. They wouldn't need a background check, a license, or very much technical knowledge, just a 3D printer. That's the vision a cadre of dedicated libertarians are determined to make reality.” — CORRESPONDENT Alexander Hotz 'PRINTING' WEAPONS AT HOME

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. U.S. Debate: No Zingers, but Romney Finally Lifts Off
NEW HOPE	“ After a number of reboots and roll-outs he finally found his voice. He wasn't likeable, but he was believable. Fluent, strident, confident – he made his case.” —COLUMNIST Gary Younge

Independent, U.K. U.S. Presidential Debate: Obama and Romney Meet in First Contest – Live “So far from Mitt Romney there's been more waffle than zinger. But when you have a 'no details tax plan' that's what happens I guess.” — Ann Romney's Advice to Mitt GENTLEMAN: START YOUR ENGINES

de Volkskrant, The Netherlands Why Should We Care About U.S. Presidential Elections? TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH “The importance of America has declined; a giant with feet of clay and a $16 trillion debt - a bankrupt country that has its hands too full with its own problems to remain involved with the world. ... Why should I care under which president the Americans live?” — COLUMNIST Bert Wagendorp IS THE WORLD LOSING INTEREST?

The Independent, U.K. Obama vs. Romney: The 'Greatest Political Showdown on Earth'
U.S. RUMBLE	“The largest, the longest, the costliest and the cruelest exercise in democracy on earth approaches its climax.” —COLUMNIST Rupert Cornwell

The Independent, U.K. Google's World Wide Web Wars “The giant of search engines has seen off its commercial rivals. Now it's locked in a series of increasingly fierce fights with many governments.” — COLUMNIST Peter Popham

Financial Times Deutschland, Germany Aung San Suu Kyi: 'She is No Saint' TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Even if it sounds like blasphemy: she is no saint. The reverence that Suu Kyi is regarded with hides her weakness. It hampers an analysis of political mistakes and shortcomings.” — COLUMNIST Georg Fahrion TOO MUCH REVERENCE?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Panetta Gets a 'Lukewarm' Welcome in New Zealand “Some local people seem a tad ungrateful. They have labeled Mr. Panetta, a former CIA chief, the 'warlord of the world' and say he should be arrested and sent for trial in The Hague. They pay no heed to Washington's 'anti-China' Asia-Pacific security agenda.” — COLUMNIST Simon Tisdall

Financial Times Deutschland, Germany Slip-Ups in Space: More Common than You Might Think TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “This glitch of a command sent to the wrong capsule address is just the latest chapter in a book full of misadventures in space.” — REPORTER Gerhard Hegmann MORE THAN MUSSED HAIR

Le Soir, Belgium Any Compromise on Free Expression would be 'Unbearable' TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “We would rather side with the white knights who have the courage to stand up to dangerous extremists capable of setting their offices ablaze.” — COLUMNIST Didier Mamann

Independent, Ireland Bill Clinton Reveals he Could Run for President of Ireland “If I move to Ireland and buy a house, I can run for president of Ireland thanks to my Irish heritage. ... ” — FORMER PRESIDENT Bill Clinton CLINTON: MOVING ABROAD?

Komsomolskaya Pravda, Russia Pussy Riot Punks and the 'Innocence of Christians' TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “We finally have an answer to the question of what would have happened to the feminist- punk band Pussy Riot if they had jerked their legs around and screamed in a mosque. It was provided by the tens of thousands of average Muslims who have destroyed U.S. embassies, instigated anti- American rioting and even killed an American envoy.” — COLUMNIST Alexandr Grishi WESTERN DOUBLE STANDARD?

News, Switzerland Obama May be Bad; Romney is Worse TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “There is one question one must ask in light of Romney, and some of the other clowns who vied for the Republican nomination: What's going on with Republicans? Isn't the party more out of touch with reality than the Democrats they denounce as elitist?” — COLUMNIST Patrik Etschmayer ROMNEY'S REPUBLICANS

Handelsblatt, Germany The 'Military Option' Poses Threat to Global Economy TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “The next few months threaten to be dangerous. Several severe regional economic and political crises could combine into a mega- crisis, which will in turn create very serious global shockwaves.” — FORMER GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER Joschka Fischer AUSTRAIN MUSLIMS PROTEST FILM

Le Monde, France Lesson to Learn: The Prophet Transcends All Films or Cartoons TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Is Islam so vulnerable, so fragile, so threatened wherever it is practiced? Can a work of fiction, a cartoon or a very bad film damage Muslim values and thought? In principle, no.” — COLUMNIST Tahar Ben Jelloun WHERE THE BATTLE BEGAN

Financial Times Deutschland, Germany 'We Germans Have a Hard Time Grasping Why People would Vote Mitt Romney' TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “That a politician has voluntarily branded himself a cold-hearted capitalist is astonishing. ... We Germans have a very hard time understanding why Americans still want to vote for Romney.” — EDITORIAL, Financial Times Deutschland WEAPONS OF SELF-DESTUCTION?

BBC News, U.K. VIDEO: Pakistan Minister Offers $100,000 for Death of Filmmaker; Calls on al-Qaeda, Taliban to Act Sept. 22, 00:01:20 "I will pay whoever kills the makers of this video $100,000. If someone else makes other similar blasphemous material in the future, I will also pay those who kill him $100,000." — Pakistan Railway Minister Shafqat Jalil MINISTER PUTS OUT CONTRACT

DE TIJD, Belgium U.S. Mistaken to Buckle Under on Free Speech TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH “The concern of the United States is understandable. Their troops on the ground are confronted with this violence. But it is extremely clumsy to respond to it with a call for censorship.” — COLUMNIST Jean Vanempten IS THIS A U.S. RETREAT?

France 24, France French Embassies Bracing for Backlash Over Cartoons “The order anticipates violent protest over the publishing of cartoons of The Prophet Muhammad by satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. The obscene cartoons have renewed anger among Muslims after more than a week of deadly protest sparked by a U.S.-made video.” — FRANCE 24 News Item

La Stampa, Italy The Metamorphosis of First Lady Obama TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “At the convention, she left the stage to a standing ovation, with her head bowed, not overdoing it - aware, perhaps, that the true revolution can be found in her, a girl from the Black ghetto standing at the center of White power, and that the game is not yet over.” — COLUMNIST Mario Calabresi LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO

Der Standard, Austria For Now at Least, it's a No-Win Situation for the U.S. in the Muslim World TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Even if the 2011 revolutions saw no U.S. flags burning, the old regimes were hated and deprived of their legitimacy because they were said to be puppets of imperialistic policy. These resentments have not been healed. On the contrary, new resentments have been added: those of secularists and liberals who now accuse the United States of forging pacts with the ruling Islamists.” — COLUMNIST Gudrun Harrer CAN NOTHING BE DONE?

Rceczpospolita, Poland Romney is Better Choice for Poland TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “If as president, Romney acts on even of a sliver of his declarations, we would stand to benefit. And if he ends up being overwhelmed by reality and was unable to do so, we would lose nothing. With Obama, we know exactly where we stand.” — COLUMNIST Waldemar Kompala POLES: THE WRONG HORSE?

The Spectator, U.K. God, Guns, and Welfare: Conspiracy Theories of the U.S. Working Class “The old fear that democracy will allow the poor to fleece property owners has never disappeared. Of course, there is a grain of truth in it.” — COLUMNIST Nick Cohen HOW OUT OF TOUCH IS HE?

Izvestia, Russia President Obama: 'Not a God, But a Partner' TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “Putin finally realizes that the American political class will offer us no one better than liberal Barack Obama.” — COLUMNIST Jan Ross RUSSIA AND BARACK OBAMA

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. China and Japan: a 'Dangerous' Standoff Over Senkaku Islands “The Senkaku dispute is the latest episode in a long history of conflict – and the Americans are increasingly nervous.” — COLUMNIST Simon Tisdall

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. U.S. Suspends Joint Military Operations with Afghan Forces “The U.S. has suspended joint operations because of a collapse in trust after a surge in the number of Americans and other NATO soldiers killed by men they are fighting with or training.” — CORRESPONDENT Chris McGreal AFGHANS: ON THEIR OWN?

THE INDEPENDENT: U.K.
Defense Minister Called
to Explain Move; Accused
of Being Out of the Loop
GUARDIAN: MPs Question
Hague as NATO Halts
Afghan Joint Patrols

Der Spiegel, Germany Muslim Protests Show Limits of Free Speech “The conflict over the film Innocence of Muslims raises questions about how far the West is prepared to go in defending free expression.” — CORRESPONDENTS Lazar Backovic, Dieter Bednarz, Clemens Höges, Marc Hujer, Juliane Von Mittelstaedt, Christoph Reuter, Marcel Rosenbach, Alexander Smoltczyk, Bernhard Zand

THE INDEPENDENT: New
$500,000 Bounty Put on
Salmon Rushdie's Head
GUARDIAN: Hezbullah
Leader Warns U.S.
Over Anti-Islam Film

The Telegraph, U.K. New Video 'Could Kill' Mitt Romney's Chances of Becoming President “Romney's comment might contain a grain of truth. But it's also cruel and fatalistic.” — HISTORIAN Tim Stanley ROMNEY: STICK A FORK IN IT?

THE INDEPENDENT: Mitt
Romney: 'It's Not My Job
to Worry about the Poor'
GUARDIAN: Mitt Romney
Stands by Gaffe but says
Case Not 'Elegantly Stated'
GUARDIAN: Occupy Wall
Street Anniversary Marred
by Arrests, Weaker Support

The Telegraph, U.K. British Businesses are Taking an 'Unfair Whacking' from U.S.
TOO TOUGH?	“BP has made mistakes, but its endless battering from U.S. authorities is out of all proportion.” —LONDON MAYOR Boris Johnson

Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany Islam in Turmoil: Religion as 'Ersatz-Identity' TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “All states in this Islam- influenced arc of crisis are in very precarious stages of development. They are all wavering between a 'path to modernization' in the American style, which was to some extent imposed in dictatorial fashion, and the search for an identity of their own - an identity that would at best draw from a history shaped by Islam as well as Euro-Christian values.” — COLUMNIST Stephan Hebel A NEW MUSLIM IDENTITY?

The Independent, U.K. Obama's Foreign Policy of Reconciliation in 'Tatters'
OFF COURSE?	“Obama seems to be rethinking his stance on U.S. interference in other lands. Will he let the voters know before the election?” —COLUMNIST Janet Daley

Die Zeit, Germany Romney's 'Nostalgia' Ill- Suited to Realities of a Fast-Changing World TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Compared to Romney and despite his flaws, Mr. Obama embodies an intelligent and engaged America. Unlike four years ago, he is no longer supported by global hopes for his victory, but concerns in the event of his defeat.” — COLUMNIST Jan Ross REPUBLICANS: OUT OF DATE?

The Telegraph, U.K. Taliban Hit U.S.- U.K. Afghan Base; 'Miss' Prince Harry “At least 2 U.S. Marines were killed in the strike on the base in Helmand Province, which houses American and British troops, among others.” — CORRESPONDENTS Sean Rayment, Ben Farmer FIREFIGHT NEAR PRINCE

Gazeta, Russia For the Kremlin, at Least Obama will Be Predictable TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “Romney’s rhetoric is not the result of a long-held position, but a set of stereotypes not backed by his personal beliefs or attitudes. What course he would pursue if elected is therefore impossible to guess.” — COLUMNIST Fyodor Lukyanov DEVIL RUSSIA DOES NOT KNOW

Die Tageszeitung, Germany U.S. Muslim Unrest Raises Stakes of U.S. Election Even Higher TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “In the hottest phase of a U.S. campaign, the logic of action in Washington often shifts to winning short-term points. But ats stake is more than an Obama second term: If and how Obama succeeds could decide whether there is war or peace.” — COLUMNIST Bern Pickert NO HIGHER STAKES

Independent, U.K. 'Inside Story' of U.S. Envoy's Assassination “People from the security forces definitely let the attack happen because they were themselves offended by the film; they would absolutely put their loyalty to the Prophet over the consulate. The deaths are all nothing compared to insulting the Prophet.” — CORRESPONDENT Kim Sengupta CHRIS STEPHENS: LAST HOURS

News, Switzerland U.S. Election Mystery: Why Don't Americans Care about the World? TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “The rest of the world does not appear exist for U.S. voters, although it is more and more clear that the interaction, feedback, and interconnectivity of the financial markets affect the American economy.” — COLUMNIST Patrik Etschmayer ARE OUR HEADS IN THE SAND?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Yale Scientists Find New Monkey Species in Congo “This was a totally unexpected find. We knew this was unusual and possibly unknown when we first saw the animal. But it was not until we had genetic and morphological analyses of our research team that we knew we really had a new species.” — Drs. John and Terese Hart THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION

The Independent, U.K. 'Provocateurs' in East and West Know: Politics and Religion Don't Mix
ILL INTENT	“It only takes a few loonies and seconds to kick off a mini war in the Muslim world.” —COLUMNIST Robert Fisk

THE TELEGRAPH: Arab Spring
Turns Sour for United States
TELEGRAPH: Ambassador Chris
Stevens: Man of Drive, Passion
TELEGRAPH: Obama Dispatches
the Marines to Hunt Killers
TELEGRAPH: Attack in Libya:
The Warning Signs were there
TELEGRAPH: Death of Ambassador
Chris Stevens Now an Election Row
INDEPENDENT: Fear and Loathing:
Another Unholy Row about Islam
INDEPENDENT: Murder of U.S.
Ambassador Proves Arab Spring
was Never What it Seemed
INDEPENDENT: Editorial: Obama
Must Measure his Response
GUARDIAN: U.S. Consulate
Attack in Libya Underlines
Threat of Salafi Islamists

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Libyan Attack: It Should Have Been Clear - Deposing Qaddafi was the Easy Part “The West has once again started a fire it cannot extinguish, with the revolution it fanned in danger of degenerating into chaos.” — COLUMNIST Simon Tisdall

Lesoir, Belgium America's Lost Hope: For the Most Part, Obama's Inexperience is to Blame TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “There is no mystery: Obama acceding to the US presidency devoid of executive experience, and equipped with just a single year as a U.S. senator, has paid for his inexperience and naivety.” — EDITORIAL, Lesoir IS OBAMA REALLY TO BLAME?

Daily Mail, U.K. 9-11: 'The Pain that Never Dies' “The 11th year, for me, it's the same as if it was yesterday ... It could be 50 years from now, and to me, it'll be just as important as year one was, or year five or year ten.” — 9-11 Responder Joe Torres ELEVEN YEARS LATER

Izvestia, Russia Romney Had Best Not Listen to Bush's 'Neocon Lunatics' TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “Romney uttered the words that if he wins, U.S. policy toward Russia will be less flexible. Those words, I suspect, evoked only an ironic grin from Putin.” — COLUMNIST Andranik Migranyan ROMNEY: MUCH LIKE BUSH?

The Telegraph, U.K. Brad Pitt: Why My Mom is Wrong about Barack Obama, Gay Marriage “Gay marriage is inevitable. The next generation, they get it. It is just a matter of time before it is a reality.” — ACTOR Brad Pitt PITT FAMILY SPLIT ON GAYS

Le Figaro, France Democrats in Combat Mode, but Now Face Joblessness Headwind TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “This bleak return to the economic realities of the moment was immediately seized on by Republicans. 'This report is a result of Obama's failed policies' proclaimed Paul Ryan' ... But Democrats at least reached some key objectives in Charlotte.” — CORRESPONDENT Laure Mandeville DID CONVENTION MATTER?

The Independent, Ireland Obama Health Care Law the 'Holy Grail' of American Politics “While near-universal health coverage is something we Europeans take for granted, it has been the Holy Grail of American politics for the past 70 years. After the failures of his predecessors, it was Mr. Obama who got healthcare over the line. For that alone his term deserves credit.” — EDITORIAL, Irish Independent

La Repubblica, Italy The Right to Vote Being Imperilled in America! TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “The U.S. right justifies this campaign by asserting a need to fight electoral fraud. But for the last 30 years, election malpractice in America has been negligible (the biggest case of 'electoral fraud' in history was perpetrated in 2000 by the U.S. Supreme Court, which robbed an election win from Al Gore).” — COLUMNIST Frederico Rampini IN THIS REALLY ABOUT FRAUD?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. President Obama's Speech Pedestrian - but Had to Be
JOB DONE?	“Fittingly, it was a pedestrian address: a very deliberate, methodical case for a second term. The best lines had been taken. His task was not to excite, but explain and engage.” —COLUMNIST Gary Younge

INDEPENDENT: Barack Obama
Urges Backers to Keep the Faith
TELEGRAPH: A Sadder, Wiser
Obama Addresses Foot Soldiers
INDEPENDENT: Obama - Give
Me Time and I'll Fix America
BBC NEWS: Obama's Rhetoric
is Clever but no Game Changer

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Democratic Convention Diary: A Barnstorming Stemwinder and a Missing Hillary Clinton “The fact-checkers were overwhelmed and reporters struggled for hyperboles to describe Bill Clinton's speech, but what became of Hillary?” — CORRESPONDENT Oliver Burkeman HILLARY: WATCHES FROM AFAR

Rzeczpospolita, Poland Election in the United States: Romney Gives Poland an Opening TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “It turns out that for the Romney camp, the issue of Poland is more vital than the Afghanistan War, China's economic growth or the situation in the Arab world - since these were utterly forgotten during his 35-minute speech acceptance speech. After the politician wins the election, we will need to hold him to his word.” — COLUMNIST Tomasz Deptula A POLISH VOTE FOR ROMNEY

The Independent, U.K. Bill Clinton Makes Speech that Obama Needed the Most
REVIVAL?	“Hugely popular, Clinton gave an address aimed squarely at fixing Barack Obama's blind spot with middle America.” —COLUMNIST Gary Younge

AUDIO: Bill Clinton's Speech
and His Luck (BBC News, U.K.)

VIDEO: The 'Big Dog' Adds His
Voice to Support Obama (BBC News, U.K.)

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Obama Doesn't Need Bill Clinton's Support. ... He Needs his Luck “Clinton's presidency was a golden era of economic growth thanks to the luck of items beyond his control.” — COLUMNIST Richard Adams WILLHIS LUCK RUB OFF?

VIDEO: Bill Clinton: 'We must
Rre-elect Barack Obama' (BBC News, U.K.)

DER SPIEGEL: Obama's
Diverse Coalition Shows
Signs of Fracture
TELEGRAPH: Now the
Gloves Come Off in
U.S. Presidential Race
GUARDIAN: Democratic
Convention Erupts Over
Restored Jerusalem Policy
TELEGRAPH: Clinton's
Speech at the Democratic
Convention: How it Happened

Gazeta, Russia Why U.S. Republicans have No Foreign Policy TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “Instinctively, Romney would like to return to the world's former two-pole model, when all was simple and clear. But today's biggest challenge is the fuzzy strategic situation and the blurred frontlines. It isn't clear who is on your side, who is right or wrong - or rather, the trouble is that allies and enemies often switch sides.” — COLUMNIST Fyodor Lukyanov RYAN AND FOREIGN POLICY

Der Spiegel, Germany The U.S. Election: 'Campaign of Lies' “In this year's U.S. poll, truth is in short supply. Both the Democrats and Republicans are now more unabashed in their lies than ever before.” — CORRESPONDENT Gregor Peter Schmitz

The Telegraph, U.K. Michelle Obama 'Comes Out Swinging' in Defense of Barack “Behind almost every line of this speech lionizing her husband’s rags-to-riches journey lurked the pale image of the Republican candidate, who was handed his privileged start in life on a silver platter.” — CORRESPONDENT Peter Foster MICHELLE MAKES THE CASE

INDEPENDENT: Democratic
Faithful Tune Out Economy
and Look to Michelle Obama
GUARDIAN: The Democratic
Convention: Joyless Reporters,
Competitive Candidates
TELEGRAPH: Echoes of Obama
Surround Rising Latino Star

The Independent, U.K. Michelle Obama Urges Voters to 'Renew their Vows' to the President
THE DEMS	“In the room, hope had never died and change was still going to come.” —COLUMNIST Gary Younge

Trouw, The Netherlands Apple vs. Samsung: In U.S., Even a Fart Can Have a Patent! TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH “Apple celebrates that the judgment has made it clear that stealing is prohibited. That is true. But that begs the question of what you can make your own property. The U.S. patent regime has ballooned so much that every fart can be patented. That is absurd.” — EDITORIAL, Trouw

La Stampa, Italy Can Charlotte Change Equation of Campaign Bereft of New Ideas? TRANSLATED FROM ITALY “America is in the limbo of an election campaign where political conflict conceals a scarcity of ideas and weak leadership. We will soon know if the conclave in Charlotte will be able to change that.” — COLUMNIST Maurizio Molinari FOUR DAYS FOR CHANGE?

Neviditelny Pes, Czech Republic If Romney Wins, He Can Keep His Radar! TRANSLATED FROM CZECH “The last thing any of us want is to go back to the awkwardness over the Brdy Forest. Therefore, we should insure that a reprise of the exhausting radar theater does not take place. ... Yes, someone should really say something to him.” — COLUMNIST Blahoslav Hruska ROMNEY: OUT OF TOUCH?

The Independent, U.K. Even Now, Democrats Eyeing 2016 Election
WHO NEXT?	“Win or lose on November 6, Obama will be history. He will have fought his last election.” —COLUMNIST Rupert Cornwell

INDEPENDENT: The Thrill
of 2008 is Dead; I can See
Romney in White House
INDPENDENT: Why
British Still Call War
of 1812 a 'Victory'

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany Non-Aligned Summit a 'Fiasco' for Iran Regime TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Difinitively, any fear that Egypt's Muslim Brothers seek an alliance with Iran's Shiites is a thing of the past.” — COLUMNIST Rainer Hermann MORSI: WINNING THE WEST?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Think Again. In a Few Months it Could be President Romney
CAN HE WIN?	“Romney's lack of charm may not matter. The Republicans believe he is the proven turnaround artist that the American economy really needs.” —COLUMNIST Jonathan Freedland

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Egypt Underlines Iran's Isolation at Summit of Non-Aligned Movement “Mr. Morsi's condemnation of Syrian regime at Tehran summit will boost Sunni unity at the expense of Assad's closest ally.” — COLUMNIST Simon Tisdall

GUARDIAN: Afghanistan: a
Ragged Retreat Threatens to
Turn into Slow-Motion Rout

Le Temps, Switzerland Honor Neil Armstrong: Let Us Begin a Manned Mission to Mars 'Now' TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Children and adults who are passionate about space, adventure, and science in general, continue to dream. These are the huge waves that lift up humanity and spur the most promising progress and well-being for all. ... What we need is a new John Kennedy.” — Pierre Brisson, President of Mars Society Switzerland z WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?

Der Standard, Austria Romney Victory would be a Poisoned Chalice TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Neither under Reagan or George W. Bush were the Republicans as right-wing as they are today. They're farther out of the U.S. mainstream than they have ever been. Romney would be even less able than Mr. Obama to find a way out of the budget stalemate that threatens to push the U.S. economy into recession in the next fiscal year.” — COLUMNIST Eric Frey ROMNEY: POISED TO WIN?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Romney Acceptance Speech a 'Bit of a Bust' “As if to make a point about the lack of enthusiasm, even as the balloons came down, more than a few delegates remained in their seats, as the Romney and Ryan families paraded on stage.” — CORRESPONDENT Richard Adams ITS MITT: ROMNEY NOMINATED

INDEPENDENT: Republicans Talk
the Talk - but their Foreign
Policy Would be No Different
TELEGRAPH: From his Mormon
Roots to a Lack of Faith in
Obama: Romney Makes Pitch
TELEGRAPH: Cameron
and Obama Cannot
Placate Voters Forever
DAILY MAIL: Ann Romney
'Pushed Mitt' to Consider
Condi Rice as Running Mate

Argumenty i Facty, Russia Edward Topol: 'America on Verge of a Civil War' TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “In America, 95 percent of the population is historically used to living how they like, no matter what happens in government. For a long time, Americans couldn’t believe that they in fact elected a communist, and that Obama seriously planned to build socialism out of capitalism. But they are slow to place blame - they are a very trusting people.” — Edward Topol, former Communist Party journalist and U.S. resident END OF AMERICA AS WE KNOW IT?

DNA, France Romney's Daring Right Turn Gives America Clear Choice TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “And who cares if only yesterday, Romney himself, in his own state, put in place a health insurance scheme that tomorrow he indents to undo at the federal level, or that he has fought for the rights of both women and homosexuals.” — COLUMNIST Pascal Coquis ROMNEY'S RIGHT-WING RUBICON

Financial Times, U.K. This Election Could be the Republicans' Last Chance “An inability to attract the votes of ethnic minorities in general – and Hispanics in particular – is a big disadvantage to Republicans in this election, but one that the Romney-Ryan ticket could yet overcome. In future elections, it could be very well fatal.” — COLUMNIST Gideon Rachman

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Paul Ryan Sets Up Romney Stall but No One is Buying
RYAN MOJO?	“The running-mate had rousing words for the RNC but the main man is the least popular presidential nominee in 30 years.” —COLUMNIST Gary Younge

GUARDIAN: Republican National
Convention 2012 - Live Coverage

Komsomolskaya Pravda, Russia Support of Anti-Putin America for Pussy Riot 'Disgusting, Ridiculous' TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “The entire period of Putin's rule has seen a continuous series of campaigns by the West's mass media, NGOs, and U.S. lawmakers against a president who is very popular among Russians.” — COLUMNIST Alexei Panki A WESTERN PLOT ON PUTIN?

Der Spiegel, Germany Unexploded American Bomb Found in Munich “Monday's find resulted in a mass evacuation in Munich's popular Schwabing district, only a short walk from the city's world-famous tourist attractions. Officials said Tuesday morning that stores and offices nearby would also have to remain closed.” — DER SPIEGEL NEWS ITEM WWII BOMBS ELUDE GERMANS

AP PHOTOS: WWII Bomb
Detonated by Germans

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Republican Delegates from Texas and Maine Protest 'Power Grab' Rules Change “It's rare at modern conventions to have such revolts, given how carefully orchestrated they have become. They are especially rare for Republicans, who are usually a highly disciplined political party.” — CORRESPONDENT Ewen MacAskill RON PAUL BACKERS REAR UP

News, Switzerland 'Legitimately Raped': An Idea Only the Iran Regime Could Love TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “That the hideous face of the party, with prudery, fear of God, women and foreigners at the top of its agenda, resembles more than anything that of the Iranian regime - their sworn and deadliest enemy (after Obama) - is to say the least ironic.” — COLUMNIST Patrik Etschmayer REPUBLICANS AND AKIN

BBC NEW, U.K. Rachel Corrie: Court Rules Israel Not at Fault for Death of American Activist in Gaza “Judge Oded Gershon said. Corrie had been protecting terrorists in a designated combat zone. 'She [Corrie] did not distance herself from the area, as any thinking person would have done.'” — CORRESPONDENT Jon Donnison BY ACCIDENT OR DESIGN?

GUARDIAN: Verdict Exposes
Israeli Military Mindset
GUARDIAN: Corrie's
Mother: 'I Know this
Won't be the End'
GUARDIAN: Rachel
Corrie Ruling 'Deeply
Troubling', says Family

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Republicans Must Change Romney from Forrest Gump into Tom Hanks
REDRAWING	“The RNC is a shell of its former electoral importance, so the Mitt Romney that's put on parade must be a humanized one.” —COLUMNIST Gary Younge

The Independent, U.K. 'The U.S. is the Major Player Against Syria and Rest are its Instruments’
ASSAD'S VIEW	“Assad's Foreign Minister gives his first interview to a Western reporter since conflict began.” —COLUMNIST Robert Fisk

Challenges, France The High Cost of Lance Armstrong's Downfall TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “They are going to ask him for all the money received from his Tour victories, and surely from the other races. He is going to have to repay almost all of the winnings he took in during his entire career.” — COLUMNIST Carlos Colon LANCE: SOON TO BE BROKE?

Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Russia Kremlin 'Suspends' Use of Tartus Naval Base in Syria TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “Our naval base in Tartus will not support a military option. We cannot act militarily against countries that are supporting the Syrian opposition forces.” — Unidentified Russian Defense Ministry Source WILL RUSSIA GIVE UP TARTUS?

TELEGRAPH: Britain and
U.S. Plan Syrian Revolution
from Istanbul Office Block
DER SPIEGEL: German
Commentators Assert
Obama's Warning
'Will Not Deter Assad'

Malagahoy, Spain Let Us Not Trade Our Democracy for Assange and His Ilk TRANSLATED FROM SPANISH “I trust democratic governments more than Assange and cyber- pirates, Wiki-spies or hackers.” — COLUMNIST Carlos Colon GARZON: DEFENDING ASSANGE

The Independent, U.K. Neil Armstrong, 'One of Great American Heroes of All Time', Dead at 82 “With 'one small step', he made history as the first man on the Moon. Now, on his death, a president, and the world, pay tribute.” — COLUMNIST Rupert Cornwell WHAT WAS - AND WHAT COULD BE

SUNDAY SUN, U.K.: Tributes from
British Scientists to Neil Armstrong
TELEGRAPH: Neil Armstrong's Legacy
was the 'Strength of Human Skill'
GUARDIAN: Man on Moon:
Moment of Greatness that
Defined American Century

Telegraph, U.K. 'Omens Not Good' for Republican Convention “Next week's Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, might be a disaster. Literally.” — CORRESPONDENT Tim Stanley

VIDEO: Americans Still Seems
to Prefer Obama (Russia Today)

TELEGRAPH: Bob Dole
Urges Romney to Confront
Republican Right Wing

Le Figaro, France Obama Counters Romney Swiftboat 'Magic Bullet' TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “On the one hand, Romney complains about the harsh blows he receives from the campaign of 44; and on the other, he's not shy about using underhanded means himself. ... The holes in this documentary are so big that not laughing is a challenge. ... Yet another splash of cold water for Romney.” — COLUMNIST Jean-Sebastien Stehli CAN ROMNEY PULL A BUSH?

Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia 'Politically Correct' 2012 Olympics Neared 'Fascism' TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “The Ministry of Goodness, ready with a red-hot iron to punish acts of a politically- incorrect boyfriend, turns out being quite tolerant of Nazism of a different sort. ... Lebanese athletes refused to practice in the same gym as the Israeli team. This is not just a bad Twitter joke or a boyfriend's Facebook post - it is pure racism.” — COLUMNIST Yulia Latinina IS IOC ROTTEN TO THE CORE?

The Telegraph, U.K. British Conservatives are 'Turned Off' by 'Extreme' Republicans “The Tea Party movement doesn't sit comfortably with most conservatives in the U.K. And the whole Bible-Belt thing; looking to God the whole time; the extreme anti- abortion approach; it just doesn't sit well with the Conservative Party at all.” — BRITISH MP Brooks Newmark

SKY NEWS: Romney's Gold
Standard Idea Is 'Madness'
YORKSHIRE EVENING POST:
Flaw in Republican Obsession
with ‘Objectivist’ Philosopher
GUARDIAN: Romney Financial
Documents: Sifting through
All of the 'Grubby Details'

The Independent, U.K. Is Lance Armstrong's Life Built on a Lie? “Can a man's achievements be great enough to stand in the face of claims that they are based on lies?” — COLUMNIST SIMON USBORNE HOAX OR UNFORGIVABLE INJUSTICE?

VIDEO: Past Statement of Lance
Armstrong on Drug Claims (BBC News, U.K.)

TELEGRAPH, U.K.:
Lance Armstrong 'Tipped
Off' Before Drug Tests

Independent, U.K. Police to Arrest Assange 'Under All Circumstances' if He Tries to Flee Embassy “A briefing note handed to officers orders them to make the arrest if he attempts to leave in a diplomatic bag or vehicle.” — REPORTER Kevin Rawlinson

RUSSIA TODAY: There Will Be
'No Special Treatment' for Assange

VIDEO: Ecuador President
Correa Insists on 'Safe Passage'
for Assange (BBC News, U.K.)

BBC News, U.K. VIDEO: Dan Rather Tells Brits, U.S. Conventions 'Irellevent' and 'Crude' Aug. 24, 00:03:22 "Who wants to hear a sort of wind festival, of nothing bust self-serving speeches, for days on end?” — JOURNALIST Dan Rather EVENTS OF A BYGONE ERA?

GUARDIAN: Romney Faces
the 'Speech of His Life'

Le Figaro, France 'Petty' Games within Games at the Ecuadorian Embassy TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “The address Julian Assange delivered from a balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy is part of a much bigger and pernicious game that can be summarized in four points: The ambition of Correa, the risks of extradition to the U..S., British arrogance, and free speech in Ecuador.” — COLUMNIST Patrick Bele CORREA: CHAVEZ VERSION II?

The Independent, U.K. Getting Rid of Dubya Wasn't Enough. The U.S. Remains a Bully “It was a bad dream that went on for eight years, and no wonder much of the world is still breathing a sigh of relief. But American foreign policy these days escapes scrutiny. In part, that is down to a well-grounded terror of the only alternative to Barack Obama: the increasingly deranged United States right.” — COLUMNIST Owen Jones IRRETRIEVABLE BULLIES?

The Telegraph, U.K. Mitt Romney Met Todd Akin Doctor Jack Willke During 2012 Campaign “Romney met Jack Willke, the doctor credited with popularizing Todd Akin's views on rape and abortion, during the current election campaign, and told him they agree on 'almost everything.'” — COLUMNIST Jon Swaine MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE DEFECIT

Die Presse, Austria WikiLeaks: From 'Torch of Democracy' to an Anti-American 'Cudgel' TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “WikiLeaks set out to be a torch of democracy - but instead became a digital cudgel for U.S.- haters. ... And in view of the behavior of Julian Assange, one must to conclude that this was not mere coincidence - but was by design.” — COLUMNIST Michael Laczynski

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Don't Lose Sight of Why U.S. is Out to Get Julian Assange “Ecuador is pressing for a deal that offers justice to Assange's accusers – and essential protection for whistleblowers. ... with British and Swedish loyalty to the U.S. on the line, Assange shouldn't expect to leave the embassy any time soon” — COLUMNIST Seumas Milne WHAT IS WASHINGTON UP TO?

VIDEO: Assange Can't Stay
and Can't Go' (Russia Today)

VIDEO: Ecuador Warns Brits
it Would be 'Suicide' to Attempt
to Arrest Assange (BBC, U.K.)

VIDEO: Julian Assange Row:
South America Backs Ecuador (BBC, U.K.)

GUARDIAN: How South America
Sees the Julian Assange Case
TELEGRAPH: Sweden Prosecutors
'Censure' British Diplomat for
Naming an Assange Accuser

The Irish Times, Ireland It's Time We Finally Dispelled the Myth of 'Legitimate Rape' “It appears that Mr. Akin was born in the wrong century because the last time his archaic views were consensus opinion was back in the medieval era, when doctors thought women could only get pregnant if they derived pleasure from sex.” — COLUMNIST Colette Browne THE FACE OF REPUBLICANS?

TELEGRAPH: Women are Fed
Up with Male Politicians on Both
Sides of Atlantic Diminishing Rape
TELEGRAPH: Church and
State Separation Gone
Too Far, says Mitt Romney
TELEGRAPH: Ahead of Convention,
the Republican Party Endorses
Abortion Ban Without Exceptions
GUARDIAN: Is Niall Ferguson's
Newsweek Attack on Obama
'Embarrassing' and 'Unethical'?
TELEGRAPH: Akin's 'Legitimate
Rape' Remarks Threaten to
Engulf Mitt Romney Campaign

Dagens Nyheter, Sweden Sweden's Image Smeared by Missteps and Accusations of Assange and Defenders TRANSLATED FROM SWEDISH “The very negative image of the Swedish legal system that the case has disseminated around the world is unfounded. ... In retrospect, it is a pity that the prosecutor didn't avail himself of the opportunity of interrogating Assange in London.” — COLUMNIST Gianni Riotta ASSANGE'S DIPLOMATIC INCIDENT

The Telegraph, U.K. Top Gun Director Tony Scott Leaps to His Death from Los Angeles Bridge “Witnesses reported seeing the father-of-two calmly park his Toyota Prius near the bridge, climb a 10 foot fence and leap off 'without hesitation' just after noon.” — CORRESPONDENT Andrew Hough FAMILY ISSUES FOR SCOTT?

BBC NEWS VIDEO: Hollywood
in 'Shock' Over Scott Death;
Suicide Note Found in Car

BBC, U.K. Why Ecuador Offered Julian Assange Asylum “By granting him asylum, the government is trying to prove it really cares about freedom of opinion and freedom of the press, at a moment when Ecuador has been strongly criticised.” — COLUMNIST Mark Weisbrot ASYLUM GRANTED

VIDEO: Assange Criticizes
Attacks on Whistle Blowers by
Governments (Russia Today)

VIDEO: Ecuador Foreign
Minister Patino Explains Decision
to Grant Assange Asylum (BBC, U.K.)

VIDEO: Britain Threatens to 'Storm'
Ecuador Embassy to Sieze Assange (BBC, U.K.)

GUARDIAN: Julian Assange
Granted Asylum by Ecuador
- Live Coverage
TELEGRAPH: Timeline
of Swedish Sex Charges
Against Julian Assange
GUARDIAN: Assange 'Blows
Giant Raspberry' in Face
of Foreign Secretary Hague
ECONOMIST: Britain and
Ecuador: Asylum for Assange

Le Figaro, France Romney Seeks 'Back Door' Into the White House TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Every time Romney has had to deal with opposition, he has shrunk away and denied his own convictions to placate whoever was in front of him - like a little boy who just wants to please. This isn't exactly a demonstration of the strength of character expected from a U.S. president.” — COLUMNIST Jean-Sébastien Stehli

BBC News, U.K. Killer of John Lennon has Parole Hearing this Week “The former security guard, who has a history of mental illness, claims to have had a religious conversion in prison.” — BBC news item HAS CHAPMAN 'REFORMED'?

BBC NEWS, U.K. Assange Faces Arrest Before His Statement “Our correspondent says corridors and elevators inside the building, which is shared with Colombia, are communal and not part of the Embassy, so police in these areas could arrest Mr. Assange.” — CORRESPONDENT Andrew Plant ASSANGE CROWD SWELLS

GUARDIAN: Julian Assange
Granted Asylum by Ecuador
- Live Coverage
BBC NEWS: Americas Ministers
to Convene - Deal with Assange

Russia Today, Russia VIDEO: Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Warns of Attack on Online Freedom, Talks of Dotcom; Assange “They are going beyond the bounds of what's right in order to convict ... the trouble is, we've developed what sort of rights you have against accusers, meaning the police and prosecutors ... presumption of innocence means the burden of proof is on the accuser ... and prosecutors and accusers have found a lot of ways to get around those rights. That's what bothers me. If they want to convict you of something you didn't do, they have an aweful lot of ways to do it.” — Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak OPEN INTERNET UNDER ATTACK

La Stampa, Italy The Olympic Games: Mirror of Our World TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “China is the new empire ushering the Asian century. America stands fast, with her space lab Curiosity landing on Mars and her Martian basketball dream team. Behind them, new entries made their debut: Egypt took the podium in fencing, Venezuela and South Korea made good showings, as did the tiny Caribbean isle of Grenada, which based on per capita population, took first place at the Games.” — COLUMNIST Gianni Riotta BETTER THAN BULLETS

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Sioux Nation Campaigns to Buy Back Black Hills Siezed By United States “You may see the irony that the Sioux Nation, having put aside the $1 billion in compensation offered for the original theft, is now trying to buy back the land we believe always belonged to us. All the same, that is what we are doing: raising money to buy back our Native birthright.” — Dana Lone Hill, an Oglala Lakota Sioux BUYING BACK WHAT'S THEIRS?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Assange Asylum: Ecuador is Right to Stand Up to U.S. “The United States may paint itself as a promoter of human rights, but any right to make such a claim is long gone.” — COLUMNIST Mark Weisbrot

VIDEO: Protests in Ecuador,
Embassy on Guard (BBC News, U.K.)

VIDEO: Assange Will Not Be
No Safe Passage out of U.K.,
says Foriegn Secretary (BBC, U.K.)

VIDEO: Ecuador Foreign
Minister Patino Explains Decision
to Grant Assange Asylum (BBC, U.K.)

VIDEO: Britain Threatens to 'Storm'
Ecuador Embassy to Sieze Assange (BBC, U.K.)

GUARDIAN: Julian Assange
Granted Asylum by Ecuador
- Live Coverage
TELEGRAPH: Assange to
Issue Statement 'In Front' of
Embassy Haven on Sunday
GUARDIAN: Ecuador 'Wrong'
to Describe Charges Against
WikiLeaks Chief as 'Laughable'
DAILY MAIL: Scuffle Breaks
Out Between Supporters
of Assange and Police

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Paul Ryan and the Paradox of U.S. Politics “Amid greater polarisation, winning centrist independent voters is more vital than ever. Which makes Ryan as Romney's VP pick all the more baffling.” — CORRESPONDENT Peter Beaumont

GUARDIAN: Paul Ryan's
Faith in Ayn Rand is
a Political a Problem

News, Switzerland Ryan: Libertarian Trojan Horse May Throw Romney TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “The question is whether Ryan's loyalty to a would-be President Romney will be stronger that his fealty toward his hallowed political positions. It is quite likely that this Libertarian 'consolation price' will be a huge loss for Romney.” — COLUMNIST Patrik Etschmayer A MODERN CATO THE YOUNGER?

Die Zeit, Germany An Ex-Mormon Missionary, Mitt Romney's European Gaffes Were Calculated TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “During missionary work, one gets to know Europeans in a way that they would rather not see themselves. ... If Romney does win the election in November , there will finally be a president who knows the Europeans.” — COLUMNIST and former Mormon Eric T. Hansen ROMNEY: NOT SO GAFFE PRONE?

The Observer, U.K. In Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney Makes Risky and Divisive Choice “The Republican candidate's running mate is proposing an economic strategy that could harm U.S. recovery.” — EDITORIAL, The Observer RYAN: SOLUTION FOR ROMNEY?

VIDEO: Mitt Romney Running Mate
Paul Ryan Unveiled in Virginia (BBC, U.K.)

VIDEO: Romney Slips Up Introducing
Ryan as 'Next President'(BBC, U.K.)

GUARDIAN: Romney Introduces
Paul Ryan as Part of 'Comeback
Team' Republican Ticket
TELEGRAPH: Mitt Romney's
Choice as Running Mate Just
Made the Election Interesting
ECONOMIST: Romney Makes his Choice

The Telegraph, U.K. U.S. Tourists Find Italy Hitler Wines 'Offensive' “This offends the memory of millions of people and risks compromising Italy's image.” — CORRESPONDENT Josephine McKenna

Daily Mail, U.K. Romney Said to Want David Patreus as VP “The ex-Massachusetts governor overtly dodged a question about Petraeus while speaking with reporters this afternoon.” — REPORTER Michael Zennie PATREAUS ENTERING ARENA?

Euromoney, U.K. Standared Chartered Bank Accused of Trading with Iran to Tune of $250 Billion “Standard Chartered – which has aggressively promoted its whiter- than-white corporate culture in recent years – is unlikely to ever fully recover from the damage.” — Unnamed Analysts

The Independent, U.K. Sikhs Call Attacks on Community 'Collateral Damage' of Sept. 11 “Underpinning everything is an outpouring of frustration, just short of anger, at what Sikhs in Oak Creek and other parts of the U.S. say is the+ assumption that because of their turbans and beards they are Muslims – with all the weight that carries since 9/11.” — CORRESPONDENT Chris McGreal

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland Romney's Blunders Give Poland a Boost! TRANSLATED FROM POLAND “Let us not be picky – we found ourselves in America’s spotlight and came out with flying colors. This has value regardless of the outcome of the U.S. elections in November. Thank you, Mitt!” — COLUMNIST Mariusz Zawadzki POLAND COMES OUT AHEAD

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland Mitt Romney's Biggest Weakness Exposed on His Sojourn to Poland TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “Commentators who wrote that the visit of American presidential candidate Mitt Romney remains in the shadow of the Cold War and that he is doing everything possible to differentiate himself from Obama, whose gaze is more directed at the future, were right. This is Romney's biggest weakness.” — COLUMNIST Jacek Pawlicki

Daily Mail, U.K. Two Billion People Watch Usain Bolt's 100m Victory, None of them in America “NBC took the controversial decision to hold broadcasting the popular event to prime time, leaving millions of track and field fans outraged.” — DAILY MAIL NEWS ITEM AMERICA'S TAPE-DELAYED OLYMPICS

GUARDIAN: Brits Reduced
to Showing Michael Phelps
Victory Using Lego Figures
GUARDIAN: NBC's Best
Olympic Offerings?
Grab your iPad and PC

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland Walesa on Romney: 'We are Alike' TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “Mr. Romney has a sense of humor; he's sociable, professes similar values, is very close to his wife, and has five children. We are alike and are looking for similar solutions. This meeting gave me an idea of what direction the U.S. would take if Romney wins. But I'm not endorsing him.” — Former Poland President Lech Walesa AN ENDORSEMENT - ALMOST ...

The Telegraph, U.K. American Scientists Suspect Dolphins Form 'Elite Societies' “We sometimes think that traits such as culture are exclusively human, but a growing body of literature proves otherwise.” — Dr. Janet Mann of Georgetown University COULD DOLPHINS HAVE 'CULTURE'?

The Telegraph, U.K. Is Phelps the Greatest Athlete Ever? Sports Writers Debate “Winners and losers are chosen by facts, but our attachment to them is essentially an emotional one.” — British Sports Writers PHELPS: THE GREATEST ATHLETE EVER?

The Independent, U.K. #NBCFail: Backlash as Twitter Locks Out British Correspondent Guy Adams “The U.S. TV broadcaster NBC was at the center of a dispute last night after it persuaded Twitter to suspend a journalist from The Independent who criticised its Olympic coverage.” — REPORTER Sam Masters

INDEPENDENT: NBC Blames Twitter
for Lockout of British Journalist
INDEPENDENT: Twitter Backs Down
at Last - but Why Did I Get Banned?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. American 'Polymath' Gore Vidal Has Died at Age 86 “I am not at heart a playwright. I am a novelist turned temporary adventurer; and I chose to write television, movies, and plays for much the same reason that Henry Morgan selected the Spanish Main for his peculiar – and not dissimilar – sphere of operations.” — Writer, pundit, playright Gore Vidal A MAJOR LOSS TO AMERICAN LETTERS

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Ye Shiwen's World Record Olympic Swim 'Disturbing', says Top American Coach “The one thing I will say is that history in our sport will tell you that when we see something, and I will put quotation marks around it, 'unbelievable', history shows us that it turns out later on there was doping involved.” — —John Leonard, World Swimming Coaches Association YE SHIWEN'S ILL-GOTTEN GOLD?

GUARDIAN: Ye Shiwen Calmly Takes
More Gold as Drug Claim Storm Rages
GUARDIAN: Ye Shiwen's Father
Attacks the 'Arrogant West'
TELEGRAPH: U.K. Olympic
Association Chairman Calls
Doping Charges 'Regrettable'

Gazeta, Russia With Olympic Ban on Belarus Leader, West Initiates a New Era of Sport Politicization TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “This sets a precedent, not only for the history of the Olympics, but for the West's relations with the dictatorial regimes of the post-Soviet space.” — EDITORIAL, Gazeta WRONG TO BAN THIS MAN?

La Stampa, Italy Olympic Uniform Spat Reflects 'Hidden Strength' of America TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “Team USA is comprised of a union of distant cultures. If the symbolic Christmas song White Christmas was written by Jewish musician Izrail Moiseevic Bejlin, aka/Irving Berlin, why on earth shouldn’t one hear the Star Spangled Banner after being awarded an Olympic gold medal while wearing a uniform tailored by a Chinese seamstress? What could be more ‘American’? But don’t expect demagogues drugged by election-year politics to get this.” — COLUMNIST Gianni Riotta U.S. LAWMAKERS MISSING THE POINT?

The Independent, U.K. Carl Lewis on Romney: 'Some Americans Should Not Leave the Country' “"Every Olympics is ready, I don't care whatever he said. I swear, sometimes I think some Americans shouldn't leave the country. Are you kidding me, stay home if you don't know what to say.” — Carl Lewis, Ten Time U.S. Olympic Gold Winner

AMERICANS IN LONDON SPEAK

BBC VIDEO: Mitt Romney
in London: 'Blunderer and Chief'

INDEPENDENT: Even Carl
Lewis Thinks Mitt Should
Shut Up and Go Home
TELEGRAPH: If Romney Does Not
Like Us, We Shouldn't Care
GUARDIAN UNLIMITED: Oh, Mitt:
Those Romney Gaffes in Full
GUARDIAN: Romney's Olympic
Blunder Stuns No. 10 and
Hands Gift to Obama Campaign
DAILY MAIL: Mitt Romney's
Terrible, Horrible, No Good,
Very, Very Bad Day in London
TELEGRAPH: If Romney and Cameron
Don't Get On, it's Because Romney is
a Conservative and Cameron is Not
TELEGRAPH: Romney Would
Restore 'Anglo-Saxon' Ties
Between Britain and U.S.
TELEGRAPH: Mitt Romney
Questions Whether Britain
is Ready for Olympic Games
TELEGRAPH: Did they
Really Put Sarah Palin in
Charge of Olympic Flags?
GUARDIAN: Romney Visits
London While Stumbling
on 'Almost Every Front'

FOOT FIRMLY IN MOUTH

Rzeczpospolita, Poland Criticism of Poland's CIA Prison Discredits the Left TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “The death of al-Qaeda is not the only casualty of the war on terror. The leftist theory of the responsibility of the West for all of the world’s sins has also been rendered dead.” — COLUMNIST Tomasz Wróblewski

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland Poland’s CIA Prison: ‘Little Boy Likes Torture; Wants to be Macho Man ’ TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “What's so amazing about the willingness of conservative fans to fight a ‘war on terror’ at the expense of basic civil liberties is not so much their lack of sensitivity, but their striking lack of imagination.” — COLUMNIST Adam Leszczynski POLAND'S POLITICAL CIVIL WAR

Elsevier, The Netherlands How in the West and East, Mass Murderers are Bred TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH “Whether you believe in the Joker or that 72 virgins await you in the afterlife - the delusions are similar. Only the men in the background differ.” — COLUMNIST Leon de Winter TWO KINDS OF MADNESS, MURDER

Le Figaro, France ‘Continue the Massacres; Protect Our Reelections’ TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Continue the massacres and protect our reelections. … There is little chance that we will hear Democrats or Republicans mention the word 'firearms' in their homilies. The slaughter can go on.” — COLUMNIST Jean-Sébastien Stehli U.S. LAWMAKERS AND FIREARMS

Liberation, France America and Guns: ‘How Many People Have to Die?’ TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “A sizable chunk of Poland's political right is protesting Madonnas show on August 1, from Solidarni 2010 to Law and Justice Party MP Artur Górski. I throw my support behind them, as I suspect that the singer is working on orders from Kremlin!” — COLUMNIST Bernd Pickert AMERICA MISGUIDED OVER GUNS?

Die Tageszeitung, Germany National Rifle Association: America's 'Deadliest' Lobby TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “It seems self-evident that it is the unrestricted access to these lethal instruments that produce criminals in the first place. If one is capable of simply walking into the nearest shop to secure everything needed for a mass- murder-in-waiting, the path from depression to blood-soaked headline is rendered easy.” — COLUMNIST Bernd Pickert THE POWER OF MONEY AND ILLOGIC

Rzeczpospolita, Poland Madonna: Singing Agent of Russian Imperialism! TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “A sizable chunk of Poland's political right is protesting Madonnas show on August 1, from Solidarni 2010 to Law and Justice Party MP Artur Górski. I throw my support behind them, as I suspect that the singer is working on orders from Kremlin!” — COLUMNIST Bartosz Weglarczyk MADONNA: IN 'BED' WITH PUTIN?

Izvestia, Russia Batman Shootings Elicit No Fear from Russian Film Execs and Analysts TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “America is a peculiar country, in which shootings happen in all sorts of places. In our country, movie theaters are the calmest of places to spend time Video pirates are more of a concern than terrorists for Russians.” — Alexei Ryazantzev, president of film distributor Karo Premiere PROFITS UNLIKELY TO BE AFFECTED

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Pressure Mounts for Tough Arms Control Treaty at U.N. “It is quite possible that in 20 years, people will be killed off systematically by unmanned devices, as opposed to drones, in which case there is still a person, albeit at a distance, behind the stick at the trigger.” — COLUMNIST Patrik Etschmayer

Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany Films Reflect Violence in Society - Not the Other Way Around TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “The Batman film reflects the brutal truth: the exhibitionism of violence it displays is taken directly from society itself.” — COLUMNIST Fritz Goettler IS THIS JUST ART REFLECTING LIFE?

Saarbruecker Zeitung, Germany Colorado: Bloody Acts Like this ‘Cannot Be Prevented’ TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “One thing can now be asserted: Bloody acts like these cannot be prevented. That's the frustrating realization at the end of the long bloody trail that winds through all continents, eras and societies.” — COLUMNIST Thomas Spang GUN LEGISLATION CANNOT BANISH EVIL

The Daily Mail, U.K. The 'Curse of Batman': Franchise Plagued By Tragic Mishaps, Death “Before the shooting spree, one of the biggest tragedies associated with the film was the death of Heath Ledger, who reprised the Joker in previous The Dark Knight.” BATMAN FRANCHISE SNAKE BIT?

News, Switzerland The X-47: Killing without ‘Scruple or Conscience’ TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “It is quite possible that in 20 years, people will be killed off systematically by unmanned devices, as opposed to drones, in which case there is still a person, albeit at a distance, behind the stick at the trigger.” — COLUMNIST Patrik Etschmayer PONDERING THE UNMANNED FUTURE

The Irish Examiner, Ireland Colorado: Life Imitates Art with Gruesome Results “What happened in Colorado is another grim warning of the consequences of an unbridled gun culture. This must not be allowed to foster in this nation.” —EDITORIAL, Irish Examiner TOO EASILY ARMED AND DANGEROUS?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. America Needs to Talk About Gun Control in the Wake of Colorado
GUN CONTROL	“The chorus of sympathy marks a stubborn refrain in a perennial American elegy. Different singers uttering different words - singing the same song.” —COLUMNIST Gary Younge

BBC VIDEO: Batman Cinema
Shooting: 12 Dead in Colorado

INDEPENDENT: Paris
Premiere of Batman Canceled

Daily Mail, U.K. Gunman in a Gas Mask Shoots 14 People Dead at U.S. Screening of Batman “Witnesses say he burst out of the emergency exit at the front of the theater, wearing body armor, and began firing into the audience as he made his way up the stairs, picking off his victims at random.” — CORRESPONDENT Jill Reilly A VERY 'DARK KNIGHT' IN DENVER

GUARDIAN: Denver Batman
Premier Shooting - Live Updates

Le Figaro, France Obama, Romney Luck Out: George W. Steps Back into the Breach! TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “It may be that the pitiful performance of Romney, the Republican nominee, may have restored his own confidence in himself – perhaps his terms were less disastrous than people said.” — COLUMNIST Veronique Saint-Geours BUSH HAS ADVICE ON ECONOMY

La Nouvelle Republique, France Madonna ‘Affronts’ French Right-Wing National Front TRANSLATED FROM FRANCE “Madonna, who converted to a branch of the Hebraic religion Kabala, long ago attacked the extreme French right - and more specifically Jean-Marie Le Pen - whom she associated with Hitler and George W. Bush in a set of images shown on stage during her 2006 world tour.” — NEWS ITEM, La Nouvelle Republique MADONNA's SWASTIKA POLITICS

Svoboda News, Russia Russian Senators Get Cold Shoulder on Capitol Hill Over Magnitsky Act TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “This unexpected visit shows the serious concern Moscow feels over how something akin to the Iron Curtain will soon block corrupt Russian politicians from the world and their favorite party destinations in the West.” — Journalist and political analyst David Satter RUSSIAN BIG-WIGS BRACE FOR HIT

The Telegraph, U.K. U.S. Refuses to Help Syrian Rebels Until after Elections “We cannot understand that a superpower ignores the killing of tens of thousands of Syrian civilians because of an election that a president may win or lose.” — Abdulbaset Sieda, Chairman of Syrian National Council

Moskovskij Komsomolets, Russia Russia's Opposition Must ‘Learn to Swim’, Not Write to U.S. State Department TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “The desire to use the U.S. Congress as a weapon in Russia’s domestic political struggle is largely a gesture of desperation on the part of our opposition. But I clearly feel a tinge of schadenfreude in all this: now let us see our enemies jump and weave as if walking across a hot skillet!” — COLUMNIST Mikhail Rostovsky

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. French Front National to Sue Madonna Over Use of Swastika Image “France's far-right Front National is to sue Madonna for using a picture of its leader Marine Le Pen with a swastika on her forehead.” — CORRESPONDENT Kim Willsher DEPICTING THE FRENCH RIGHT

Financial Times Deutschland, Germany Despise them if You Want to – But without Banks, Nothing Works TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Even though some would prefer to abolish them this day, without the banks, the system could not function. How could global transfers take place without them? How would companies raise capital for investment and to generate new jobs?” — CORRESPONDENT Jens Korte CAN'T LIVE WITH THEM ...

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland Chief Justice John Roberts: a ‘Judas’ Who Sold America TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “Of course, the honest solution would be not to treat people without money at all and let them die at the hospital door like animals. Alas, in our era, one can't count on total justice.” — COLUMNIST Mariusz Zawadzki TURNING ROBERTS TO THE 'DARK SIDE'?

The Telegraph, U.K. America's Olympic Uniform Debacle “This uniform debacle has me sniggering into my Union Jack handkerchief. These uniforms, which will be worn for one evening at the Opening Ceremony, have been criticised as too preppy (by definition, all- American), too European, and now far too Chinese for anyone’s liking. So, I wonder, what should American design look like?” — REPORTER Sophie Pitman TOO FRENCH - OR TOO CHINESE?

EURO NEWS: Political Storm
Over U.S. Olympic Team's
'Made in China' Uniforms
TELEGRAPH: U.S. Olympic
Uniforms Made in China

Tageblatt, Luxembourg LIBOR: Why the World Financial System Can't Work on Trust TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “If the financial system has demonstrated anything, it is that it cannot regulate itself. And how could it, in a system that continues to consider short term gain its greatest imperative? … Trust - even between banks - is gone. No matter. It was the wrong basis for the banking world anyway.” — COLUMNIST Sascha Breme TAKING BATHS WITH OUR MONEY

Politics.com, U.K. How Can We Allow Coke, McDonalds, at Olympics? “What we are now seeing come to fruition in London 2012 is a cynical marketing strategy that contradicts medical advice, weakens parents’ best efforts to encourage their children to eat healthy, and is likely result in greater obesity.” — Malcolm Clark of the Children’s Food Campaign THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS?

BBC NEWS: 'Ban Junk Food
Sponsors from Olympic Sports'
TELEGRAPH: Olympic Chief
Backs Olympic Sponsors
Coca-Cola and McDonald's

Der Tagesspiegel, Germany Untouchable Unscrupulous ‘LIBOR Cartel’ TRANSLATED GERMAN “It is more than likely that CEOs at the helm of this LIBOR-gang have little to fear but the loss of their reputations.” — COLUMNIST Harald Schumann

Trouw, The Netherlands Bob Diamond: Living Proof that Banks Can't be Trusted TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH “Banks are unable to at the same time tend to their responsibility to the public and engage in trade for their own gain. The balance will always be tipped in favor gain on the part of the banks.” — EDITORIAL, Trouw DIAMOND: HATED THEN; DESPISED NOW

Yezhednevniy Zhurnal, Russia The Magnitsky List: U.S. ‘Secret’ Weapon! TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “Those devious yanks are pressing a most sensitive spot for Russian grandees: money. Kremlin officials want to safeguard the millions they swindled out of Russia. And, funnily enough, the safest place for the money is where all the silly things Putin hates - an independent judicary, rule of law, financial confidentiality - are all taken seriously” — COLUMNIST Alexander Goltz THE MAGNITSKY ACT HAS BITE

Telegraph, U.K. Law Cannot Curb Greedy Bankers, but Morals May “Why not do the wicked thing if it brings you personal gain? How far can you go providing an answer to that question without calling on something like a religious belief in the imperative to be good?” — COLUMNIST Janet Daley A BANKERS' RELIGIOUS REVIVAL?

TELEGRAPH: While Our
Politicians Score Points Over
LIBOR, Politics Itself Loses
INDEPENDENT: Heat Turned
Up on Global LIBOR Probes

Economist, U.K. The Republican Party is 'Screwing' Romney “Partisans are by nature Pavlovian, and simply can not help drooling when the bell rings. With health care, Republicans heard the dinging of the word 'tax' and thoughtlessly went on the attack.” — ECONOMIST Blog

Die Zeit, Germany Global LIBOR Scandal Entails a Monumental $350 Trillion in Loans TRANSLATED FROM GERMANY “Mistrust of banking sector is back. ... The manipulation of the LIBOR has proven that banks cannot be relied upon to carry out their tasks in a socially-responsible manner.” — COLUMNIST Till Schwarze NEAR UNIMAGINABLE THIEVERY

The Telegraph, U.K. IMF to Trim Growth Forecast as Crisis Deepens Worldwide “This is a global crisis. In today's interconnected world, we can no longer afford to look only at what goes on within our national borders. This crisis knows no borders.” — IMF CHIEF Christine Lagarde NO NATIONS STANDS IMMUNE

FAZ, Germany Scientology: ‘A State within Every State’ TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “In the U.S., Scientology has broken through any resistance and has long- since secured the support of leading figures in the entertainment industry and - above all - in the highest political circles, like the State Department.” — REPORTER Michael Hanfeld UNTOUCHABLE IN AMERICA?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. VIDEO: To Protest Money in Politics, Occupy Group Drops $5,000 from Hotel “The group's Web site states that it is 'time we declared independence from Citizens United" – citing the Supreme Court case which effectively ruled that corporations can make political contributions.” — REPORTER Adam Gabbatt

BBC, U.K. Why the War of 1812 Still Matters “The reasons for war included the British habit of forcing U.S. merchant sailors into Royal Navy and trade limits on the U.S. as a side-effect of Britain's long war with France.” — —REPORTER Joan Soley FIGHTING BRITISH HABITS

DER SPIEGEL: Germany Rejects
Obama's Criticism in Euro Crisis

Gazeta, Russia Good Guys vs. Bad Guys: Russia Today is the Latter TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “In the West, the rights of citizens are valued above all, and there is one set of laws for all, while in other states, people are treated like they are garbage, and the rule is ‘everything for my friends, but for all others - the law.’” — COLUMNIST Alexei Melnikov WHICH SIDE IS THE KREMLIN ON?

The Telegraph, U.K. Scientologist Spies Allegedly Deployed Against Katie Holmes “mysterious men were seen monitoring the street outside her home. The actress asked aides to take photographs of the alleged spies.” — NEWS ITEM

Izvestia, Russia Why the Kremlin Opposes Assad’s Immediate Ouster TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “When the Russian side objects to Western demands for Assad's immediate withdrawal, it isn't because Russia is fixated on his remaining as Srian president.” — COLUMNIST Andranik Migranyan RUSSIA: MORE PRAGMATIC ON SYRIA?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Why U.S. and Russia Want a Backroom Deal Over Syria “The scene is set for a Clinton- Lavrov meeting that may ring the Assad regime's death knell.” — COLUMNIST Simon Tisdall

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland Progressives on Both Sides of Atlantic Must Work Against the Right TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “Now is the time for a strong and progressive alliance among Socialists, Social Democrats and Italian Democrats on one side, and American Democrats on the other.” — Hannes Swoboda, President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament TIME TO ASSAULT THE RIGHT?

Trouw, The Netherlands Health Care Result: Solidarity of Americans May be Strengthened TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “In a state where freedom of the individual is almost religiously worshipped, it has now been established that in certain cases, it is necessary and permitted under the Constitution to compel citizens to show solidarity with one another.” — EDITORIAL, Trouw FOR A MORE UNIFIED AMERICA?

Le Temps, Switzerland U.S. Health Law: Another ‘Moral Victory’ for Obama TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “This is a reward for Obama's moral stand and his personal commitment. The affirmation of reform by the Supreme Court on Thursday is historic.” — COLUMNIST Stéphane Bussard COURT LEAVES DECISION TO PEOPLE

L'Humanite, France U.S. Supreme Court Says ‘Yes We Care’ TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “This is a victory for Barack Obama. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a reform of the U.S. health care system without precedent. In 2011, one in seven American citizens had no health coverage.” — REPORTER Charlotte Helias

Neue Zuercher Zeitung, Switzerland The Rio+20 Summit: A ‘Peculiar’ Conference TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Before it even began, the debate was over. ... Brazil wanted to avoid the chaos of the 2009 Climate Conference in Copenhagen, when the heads of state argued all night long over individual words. This was achieved.” — COLUMNIST Mark Hofmann RIO: PALE REFLECTION OF PAST

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Hyperbole and Health Care: Critics Respond to Supreme Court Decision “Right-wing pundits compare the ruling to September 11, the American Revolution and 'the end of U.S. democracy.” — BLOGGER Adam Gabbatt ANGER ON THE AMERICAN RIGHT

BBC NEWS: U.S. Supreme Court
Upholds Obama Health Reform
GUARDIAN: Why Health Care Reforms
Could Determine Future U.S. Politics
TELEGRAPH: U.S. Supreme Court
Delivers Major Win for President

La Stampa, Italy Obama Offers Putin an End Game Commitment on Syria TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “Barack Obama played the card of recognizing the importance of Russia-Syria ties. While not stated explicitly, this means that Moscow will be allowed to keep its base in Syria's port of Tartus.” — —COLUMNIST Maurizio Molinari PUTIN: THE ULTIMATE POKER FACE

Kommersant, Russia Israelis and Russians Bound Again by Battle Against Nazis TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “Your coming is a rare historic meeting. Full of pain. Full of pride. Bearing hope … Russia, which suffered from the blow of fascism, will not allow similar threats. Not the Iranian threat. Not the bloodshed in Syria.” — ISRAEL PRESIDENT Shimon Peres PUTIN: WILL THE ISRAELIS SWAY HIM?

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland Mystery Unfolds of Poland's ‘Extraterritorial’ CIA Prison TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “The Americans just laughed at the agreement put before them to sign, because they didn't want to leave traces of violations of international law and their own constitution. They took us [on the Poland side] for amateurs.” — —UNNAMED informant on secret deal to allow CIA prison in Poland OFFICIALS CALLED TO ACCOUNT

Russia Today, Russia VIDEO: World Tomorrow: Julian Assange and Guests, Noam Chomsky, Tariq Ali June 26, 00:26:49 "A surprise Arab drive for freedom, structural crisis in the West and new hope coming from Latin America. That's the modern world in the eyes of two of the left's most visionary figures, Noam Chomsky and Tariq Ali." THE WORLD'S SURPISE REVOLUTIONS

Der Spiegel, Germany Germany Firm to Clean Up Toxic Union Carbide Waste in Bhopal, India “Almost three decades later, toxic waste is still still stored on the site under very poor conditions. Now, a German government agency will now transport hundreds of tons of this hazardous material back to Germany for disposal.” — COLUMNIST Pawel Wronski

FTD, Germany ‘Europe Deserves its Humiliation’ TRANSLATED GERMAN “The rescue of the common currency is disintegrating amid bickering about national interests. … The world community is no longer open to such reactionary weakness on the part of Europeans.” — —EDITORIAL, Financial Times Deutschland CAN'T GET NO RESPECT

DER SPIEGEL: Germany Rejects
Obama's Criticism in Euro Crisis

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland America’s 'Trojan Horse' in Europe is About to Bolt TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “The feelings of Polish elites toward America are rapidly cooling. Our country, which in the past was ‘America's E.U. Trojan horse,’ is now galloping the other way.” — COLUMNIST Pawel Wronski TIME TO ASK: WHO LOST POLAND?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Scientist James Lovelock on the Shale Gas Issue and the Problem with 'Greens' “The greens use guilt. That shows just how religious the greens are. You can't win people round by saying they are guilty for putting CO2 in the air. We do now know what we are doing when it comes to CO2 [emissions], but you don't have to go right overboard like the greens shouting, 'You're guilty!'” — Scientist James Lovelock LOVELOCK CALL FOR COMMON SENSE

Gazeta, Russia U.S. is Neither Friend Nor Foe TRANSLATED RUSSIAN “When it comes to complicated, multi- layered relations between countries that were recently mortal enemies, one cannot expect cloudless skies.” — COLUMNIST Fyodor Lukyanov

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. The Fast and Furious Scandal Turning into Obama's Watergate
GUNS & DRUGS	“The story is slowly unraveling and the public is catching up with the madness.” —COLUMNIST Tim Stanley

De Morgan, Belgium The Rio+20 Climate Flop: An Exercise the World Can Ill Afford TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH “The more treaties are signed, the worse our planet’s situation gets. That’s not a witticism.” — COLUMNIST Steven Samyn CAN HUMANS TAKE ACTION?

Kommersant, Russia Tehran Twice Threatens to Walk Out of ‘Complicated and Difficult’ Negotiations TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “A diplomatic source explained that this was a 'much-used tactic ... that heightens the drama – and then the Iranians agree to something inconsequential.'” — —REPORTERS Yelena Chernenko and Vladimir Soloviev STRATEGIC TEMPER TANTRUMS?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Embassy Cables Did Not Harm America: Assange Will Not Be Extradited “I have never understood why Sweden – a neutral country with a tradition of harboring American draft dodgers and deserters – would be more likely to extradite Assange than the United Kingdom, which is a staunch American ally.” — Former Diplomat Peter Galbraith BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION?

BBC NEWS: Ecuador Ruling
on WikiLeaks' Assange Due
on Thursday
GUARDIAN: Assange Risks Arrest
if he Leaves Ecuador Embassy
GUARDIAN: Assange Asylum
Move is a 'Tragedy' for his
Accusers, His Lawyer Says
GUARDIAN: Assange Seeks
Asylum at Ecuador Embassy
in London - Live Coverage
TELEGRAPH:Why do We
Buy Julian Assange's
One-Man Psychodrama?

Moskovskij Komsomolets, Russia Obama's ‘Hope’ Keeps Putin from ‘Window on Paradise’ TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “After two hours of discussion in Mexico with Putin, Obama looked exhausted. The mood between the two clearly testified to which of the two got the upper hand.” — CORRESPONDENT Viktoriya Prihodko A CONFERENCE ABSENT OF WARMTH

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. 'Furious' Greenpeace Moves to a 'War Footing' at Rio+20 “Only when decent men and women said enough is enough and no more and were prepared to put their lives on the line and go to prison if necessary, and that is where we are. We have to intensify civil disobedience.” — Greenpeace International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo WHAT PRICE SHOULD PEOPLE PAY?

GUARDIAN: Rio+20 Summit:
Opening Day Live Blog
BBC NEWS: Rio+20:
What's Changed Since
the Earth Summit?
GUARDIAN: Rio+20 Earth
Summit – in Pictures

Le Monde, France For Latinos, President Obama Renews the American Dream TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Who says the American dream no longer exists? … Thanks to Obama, the ‘DREAMers’ will be able to legalize their status.” — CORRESPONDENT Corine Lesnes

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. G20: Europe Community Leader Blames Eurozone Crisis on American Banks “Barroso says Europe leaders have not come to Mexico to receive lessons on how to handle the economy.” — CORRESPONDENTS Patrick Wintour, Ian Traynor and Helena Smith G20: 'WHO ARE YOU TO TALK?'

GUARDIAN: Don't Expect
Any Solutions from
Global Junket in Mexico
GUARDIAN: Obama to
Pressure Putin on Syria
GUARDIAN: Greek
Election, the Debt Crisis,
G20 Summit: Live

Kommersant, Russia Magnitsky Act Likely to Trigger 'Very Harsh Backlash' from Russia TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN “If something as outrageous as that happens, our reaction will be complex, multifaceted, and extremely harsh. ... the Kremlin could lash out with a series of retaliatory measures.” — Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov PREPARING FOR A NEW COLD WAR?

Dagens Nyheter, Sweden VIDEO: One of U.S. Air Force’s 'Most Wanted' Surfaces in Stockholm June 16, 00:07:32 "I've lost my faith. They use God’s name to start wars. When I came to Europe and asked for a pacifist church, nobody understood what I was talking about. There are no pro-war churches in Germany or Sweden.” — Air Force Deserter David A. Hemler ON THE RUN FOR 28 YEARS

La Stampa, Italy Will America’s ‘War on Two Fronts’ Be Against Germans and Chinese? TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “Washington is beginning to ask whether Germany's predominance in Europe is really compatible with an 'Atlantic West'. … And whether there is perhaps a danger that Merkel's Germany may be tempted to follow in China's path.” — COLUMNIST Vittorio Emanuele Parsi A WAR WITH TWO FRONTS?

Der Spiegel, Germany President of Dissapointment: How Obama Failed to Deliver “The White House is an impossible place to work, and it is said that those who hope to succeed there have to be made of the right stuff. Does Obama have it? Is he made for the office? Or is it one size too big?” — REPORTTERS Ullrich Fichtner, Marc Hujer, Gregor Peter Schmitz CAN THE CRISIS BE BLAMED ON OBAMA?

DER SPIEGEL: Former Reagan
Advisor Laments, 'Our Political
System Is Basically Dysfunctional'

Jornal de Noticias, Portugal Facebook’s Stock Downfall: The Unreliability of Virtual Friends TRANSLATED FROM PORTUGUESE “The trend in the United States seems to mark the end of myth: that virtual friends are just as valued as real ones.” — COLUMNIST Manuel Tavares

Trouw, The Netherlands Conflict in Syria Now Threatens World Peace TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH “Military intervention outside the U.N., like the Iraq invasion, would expand the civil war into an international conflict - with devastating consequences.” — Jan Pronk, Former U.N. Envoy to Darfur HOW DANGEROUS IS SYRIA - TO US?

Novosti, Russia Putin Wants 'Documentary Guarantees' that Missile Shield Won't Target Russia “Statements like ‘do not be afraid, we promise that nothing is going happen’ are clearly insufficient in today's world. It is childish.” — Russian President Vladimir Putin SHOULD RUSSIA HAVE A GUARANTEE?

Der Spiegel, Germany Germans are Increasingly Disillusioned with Obama “Germans are disappointed in Obama's unilateralism; his use of force, particularly drone strikes; inaction with regard to Israeli-Palestinian situation and Obama's lack of effort in curbing climate change.” — COLUMNIST Bruce Stokes

FAZ, Germany Dalai Lama ‘Rambo’ TRANSLATED GERMAN “Pope John Paul II had connections with the CIA that were central to the Eastern Bloc collapsing without so much as a murmur. … In his early days, the other ‘Holiness’ also took advantage CIA funding and support.” — COLUMNIST Christian Geyer DALAI LAMA: OUT OF LINE?

La Repubblica, Italy Guerilla Files Exposed: ‘CIA Funding for the Dalai Lama’ TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “It isn’t that the Dalai Lama lied, but that up to now he certainly has not provided the whole truth of his ties to the armed resistance.” — CORRESPONDENT Andrea Tarquini DALAI LAMA: TEMPORAL VS. SPIRITUAL

Daily Mail, U.K. Google Unleashes Backpack Cam in Bid to Map Entire World “The device, a portable form of its Street View camera, can go ‘offroad’, able to photograph and map everywhere from the base of the Grand Canyon to the very summit of Mt. Everest.” — Reporters Vanessa Allen and David Gardner NO AREA LEFT UNRECORDED?

La Stampa, Italy Eurozone Torn, Even When it Comes to Disney Characters! TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “Italy seems to be walking its own path. While the winner outside our country’s borders is Mickey Mouse, the hero par excellence and top villain of the Disney Universe among the Italians is Captain Hook.” — CORRESPONDENT Adriana Marmiroli ITALY'S FAVORITE DISNEY HERO/VILLIAN

Dziennik, Poland Komorowski Thanks Obama for Helping Dispel ‘Vicious, and Unjustified Language’ TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “Obama expressed his support for actions to eradicate painful phrases like this from the public dialogue. ... There is a lesson, not just for today but for the future. ... This should be seen as an opportunity to draw strong, new impetus, as well as a partner in our struggle to dispel this vicious, painful, and unjustified words from U.S. public discourse.” — Poland President Bronislaw Komorowski POLAND: DEATH CAMP CASE 'CLOSED'

RZECZPOSPOLITA: President Obama's
‘Death Camp’ Gaffe Did Poles a Favor
DZIENNIK: Every Pole Must
Protest Until Obama Apologizes
GAZETA WYBORCZA: ‘Polish’
Concentration Camps:
‘A Major Blunder for Obama’
RZECZPOSPOLITA: Prime Minister
Tusk Tells Obama: ‘These
Words Very Deeply Hurt All Poles’
GAZETA WYBORCZA: With Luck,
Obama’s ‘Polish Death Camp’
Gaffe will Put an End to the Issue

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Syria: Why Russia Has Changed Tack “Moscow's step toward backing Bashar al-Assad's dethronement owes a lot to Putin's unsentimental calculations of what is to Russia's national advantage.” — COLUMNIST Simon Tisdall

SIMON TISDALL: Arab Spring
Uprisings: The Scorecard

La Stampa, Italian Obama: Gay Marriage, Political Calculation and American Idealism TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “Whatever Europeans may think, how fascinating is the charisma of a Republic that for two and a half centuries, through defeat and triumph, has pursued equality and the happiness of guaranteeing universal rights for all, before God and the law?” — COLUMNIST Gianni Riotta EQUAL RIGHTS BATTLE GOES ON

The Mirror, U.K. Francios Hollande First French President to Visit British D-Day War Graves “Ranville Cemetery contains the graves of 2,564 British soldiers who died early on June 6, 1944 after landing by glider and parachute.” — REPORTER Adrian Shaw

The Telegraph, U.K. Barbara Walters Sorry for Helping Assad Aide “When confronted with the emails, which were obtained by the Syrian opposition, the 82-year- old ABC broadcaster admitted to a conflict of interest and expressed 'regret' for her actions.” — CORRESPONDENT Raf Sanchez

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Wisconsin Democrats Dealt a Bitter Blow in Courageous Battle
'SECOND' TERM	“Organized labor took a huge risk in mounting a challenge to Scott Walker and lost. But they shouldn't react with regret.” —COLUMNIST Gary Younge

BBC VIDEO: Republican
Governor Survives Wisconsin Recall

Der Spiegel, Germany Why the World Cannot Stop the Killing in Syria “The United States has lost the authority to restore peace after the turmoil of Iraq. Russia alone has the power to topple Assad and avert a civil war, but Putin has so fat refused to do so.” — COLUMNIST Ullrich Fichtner

Daily Mail, U.K. America's Mysterious Space Plane to Land after YEAR in Orbit - but What Did it Do? “Many sceptics think that the vehicle's mission is defence or spy-related. There are rumors that the craft has been kept in space to spy on China's new space station, Tiangong.” — REPORTER Rob Waugh AMERICA'S 'SECRET' SPACE PROGRAM

Russia Today, Russia VIDEO: World Tomorrow: Julian Assange and Guests, Members of Cypher Punks June 5, 00:29:22 "Cyber threats, hacker attacks and laws officially intended to tackle internet piracy are in fact nfringing on people's right to online privacy. Assange hosts activists from the Cypherpunk movement to discuss the issue." THE INVISIBLE INTERNET WAR

Trouw, The Netherlands Across West, Populists on the Left and Right Find New Scapegoats TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH “Scapegoats and simplistic measures only serve to get voters on your side. The mobilizing effects, and not the genuine results, are considered most important.” — COLUMNIST Rob de Wijk WILL ANOTHER HITLER EMERGE?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Tea Party and Occupy Activists Rub Shoulders at Bilderberg Protest “With protest entering its third day in good spirits, even police officers raise odd smiles holding the line.” — CORRESPONDENT Ryan Devereauxg

GUARDIAN: Bilderberg 2012 -
Real Men Don't Like Oligarchs

CHANNEL 8 NEWS, TEXAS:
Rick Perry Is Asked About
'His Tea Party' At Bilderberg

NZZ, Switzerland Massacre at Houla is No ‘Turning Point’ for Syria TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Under current conditions, it will be difficult and costly to determine what happened at Houla within a practical time frame. In the meantime, the atrocity continues to serves as fodder for additional war propaganda on both sides.” — COLUMNIST Martin Woker WHAT PRICE THE UNSPEAKABLE?

The Independent, U.K. Mubarak Will Die in Jail, No Thanks to Us
FACING FACTS	“The army runs Egypt today. And we Westerners like like armies. The U.S. likes armies.” —COLUMNIST Robert Fisk

BBC, U.K. Scars of Iraq War Haunt American Policy in Syria “This is all reminiscent of the 1990s and President Clinton's for action in Bosnia or Rwanda.” — CORRESPONDENT Mark Urban

Daily Mail, U.K. 'Beware Rerun of Panic of 2008': World Bank Chief Robert Zoellick “There will not be time for meetings of finance ministers to discuss the outlook and debate the politics. ... 'In panicked markets, investors flee to safe assets, sparking additional global flames.” — WORLD BANK President Robert Zoellick

Guardian Unlimited, Spain Bilderberg 2012: The Technocrats are Rising “It's all change at Bilderberg this year: a new chairman, new media and the Occupy Bilderberg movement knocking at the gates.” — GUARDIAN'S 'Man' at Bilderberg READY FOR OCCUPY BILDERBERG?

The Telegraph, U.K. The Real Dilemma on Syria: Can the West Go it Alone? “The massacre of the innocents in Houla has turned a simmering diplomatic dispute with Russia into an escalating clash.” — COLUMNIST David Blair

THE TELEGRAPH: U.S.
Raises Prospect of
Intervention in Syria

Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany GM Prevails in Pitting European Workers Against One Another TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Not the best workers - but the cheapest - were the ones that won the bid. The GM Group is pursuing internal wage-dumping. … In GM's world, it is every man for himself.” — COLUMNIST Thomas Fromm AMERICAN-STYLE CAPITALISM?

Telegraph, U.K. Obama Insults Poles “Last night Obama caused huge offense in Poland by referring to a Nazi death camp in Poland as 'a Polish death camp' as he awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to a fighter of the Poland's Resistance.” — COLUMNIST Nile Gardiner

Financial Times, U.K. Rockefellers and Rothschilds Unite “The transatlantic union of 96-year-old David Rockefeller, and Lord Rothschild, 76 – two family patriarchs whose relationship spans five decades.” — Atlantic Council Report

THE ECONOMIST: Lord
Rothschild: Full of 'Gilt'

El Diario Exterior, Spain America’s ‘Unamerican’ Bout of Ethnic Neurosis TRANSLATED FROM SPANISH “Nothing is more contrary to the nature of the United States than the classification of people by race, culture or gender. Nowhere in the U.S. Constitution, or in the 85 essays of The Federalist Papers (where Madison, Hamilton and Jay explain the reach and meaning of the document), is there the slightest allusion to anything but the rules and institutions by which the new republic would be governed.” — COLUMNIST Carlos Alberto Montaner A WORRY QUICKLY DIMINISHING

Daily Mail, U.K. Yes, Syria is Tragic, But U.K. Intervention Would be Madness “The truth about the violence in Syria is far more complex than Assad's enemies would have us believe.” — COLUMNIST John Bradley

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Before Syria Crisis Expands, Obama and NATO Should Act “Obama's 'shrug your shoulders' Syria policy, faithfully imitated by the Unitted Kindom and the rest of the do-nothing NATO crew, is no longer sustainable politically, strategically, morally.” — —COLUMNIST Simon Tisdall

The Independent, U.K. The West is Horrified by Syria Childrens' Slaughter. But We Will Soon Forget
INDIGNATION	“We in the West will soon forget when another YouTube image of death flicks on our screens from the Syrian countryside. Or from Yemen. Or a new revolution.” —COLUMNIST Robert Fisk

INDEPENDENT: $33 Million
Raid on Pakistan Shows that, in
the End, Hypocrisy Will Win

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Massacre at Houla: U.S. Military Warns Syria as Obama Feels Pressure “There is always a military option. Military leaders are somewhat cautious about the use of force, because we're never sure of what comes out the other side. But that said, it may come to that point with Syria because of the atrocities.” — GENERAL Martin Dempsey, Chairman of U.S. Joint Chiefs DEMPSEY TAKES OUT BIG STICK

TELEGRAPH: Russia Refuses
to Alter Position on Syria

El Pais, Spain Ronald Reagan’s Blood: The Civil Relic with a Difference TRANSLATED FROM SPANISH “Perhaps in the future, it may be used to clone the president who embodied neoliberalism. But then again, in the light of what is happening today, that might not be such a good idea.” — COLUMNIST Marcos Balfagon WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE U.S AND BLOOD?

DNA, France At Loggerheads Over Afghanistan, the Euro … and So Much More TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “It's astounding: NATO says it may take three years to retrieve from Afghanistan - a country without railway lines - the 122,000 tanks, 70,000 vehicles (carrier, armored, artillery …) and 140,000 troops of ISAF. That is, provided a convoy leaves every seven minutes, weather permitting, every day, along roads that are either tough or impossible.” — COLUMNIST Jean-Claude Kiefer THE LOGISTICS OF GOING HOME

Financial Times, U.K. America, Pakistan and that Dysfunctional Relationship “With anti-American sentiment still running high in Pakistan, fueled by ongoing drone attacks, politicians in the United States are getting even more strident in their criticism of Islamabad.” — COLUMNIST Geoff Dyer

Diario Economico, Portugal Utopia Lost?: European Dream is Over Without Far Greater Federalism TRANSLATED FROM PORTUGUESE “Germans, still traumatized by the hyperinflation that brought Hitler to power, will not allow for additional inflation. … Will people and leaders exit their trenches and follow a common path? At this point there are more doubts than certainties.” — COLUMNIST Claudia Major IS IT CURTAINS FOR EUROLAND?

Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany ‘Lost Nation’ of Germany: NATO’s Biggest Problem TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Germany is untrustworthy and its military weakness hurts the Alliance. ... The German position is also diametrically opposed to the needs of E.U. security.” — Vice Admiral Ulrich Weisser GERMANY LAGGING ON SECURITY

Le Monde, France French Journalists Cover the G8: YAWN! TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH Ever wonder what it’s like to cover a summit at a place like Camp David, with some of the most powerful people on earth? — EDITORIAL, Le Monde

Die Tageszeitung, Germany Group of Eight Now the ‘Clueless Eight’ TRANSLATED GERMAN “What Obama, Hollande and Merkel produced isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. All of the platitudes and formulaic compromises are meant to cover up the fact that they have not the foggiest notion of how to fix the euro.” — COLUMNIST Eric Bonse WHY DO WE KEEP THE G8?

Le Monde, France Francois Hollande: French Socialist Visits Washington TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Thirty one years ago, the arrival of a socialist to power provoked astonishment and nervousness in Washington. A generation later, what a difference! Hollande was received by Obama on Friday. And no more prejudice toward France's left remains. ” — EDITORIAL, Le Monde

Le Monde, France Alleged Washington Gang Rape Victim Talks Against Dominique Strauss Kahn TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “I tried to get away but it was difficult because he was on top of me and was very heavy. … I kept saying I didn’t want to ... I didn’t scream, but said clearly several times aloud ... I tried to get away ... but Dominique Strauss-Kahn pinned me down.” — —‘Marion,’ Paid to party with DSK at Washington’s W Hotel DSK: ON CHARGES FOR RAPE IN U.S.

Russia Today, Russia VIDEO: World Tomorrow: Julian Assange and Guest Ecuador President Correa May 22, 00:46:10 "The only country that can be sure never to have a Coup d'état is the United States - because it doesn't have a U.S. Embassy. .. I will always call a spade a spade. ... I will never let my country be affected by them [the U.S.]." — Ecuador President Rafael Correa CORREA: SPEAKING FOR LATIN LEFT

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland Dire Straits for Europe Absent Less Nationalism and More Cooperation TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “A new European security pact should allow for the strengthening of Europe's defense identity … and as a result, address self-interest, nationalism and all they entail.” — —Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, European Parliament Member CAN EUROPE UNITE TO SAVE NATO?

Knack, The Netherlands Days of ‘Superfluous’ G-8 are Numbered TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH “In 2012, holding in-depth discussions about global economic problems with the conspicuous absence of China, India, Brazil, Turkey, South Korea and the Saudis is decidedly unrealistic.” — COLUMNIST Johan van Overtveldt

The Independent, U.K. Megrahi is Dead. Now We'll Never Know the Truth about Lockerbie
DIRTY HANDS	“If he was wrongly convicted, what did he do in the service of his master? ... I've gone through these files and I long ago concluded that the were devastating.” —COLUMNIST Robert Fisk

INDEPENDENT: No Closure
for the Lockerbie Families

Die Zeit, Germany Price of NATO Survival: Diminished Sovereignty TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “NATO member states fear a loss of control. But they have no choice if they want to halt the military alliance's decay.” — COLUMNIST Claudia Major CAN NATO SURVIVE THESE TIMES?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Nato and G8 Summits: What Have we Learned? “World leaders will leave Chicago Monday night after some of the most intensive negotiations of the year on eradicating hunger to the eurozone crisis and ending the Afghanistan war. So what was the outcome?” — COLUMNIST Ewen MacAskill

GUARDIAN: U.S.-Pakistan Tensions
Deepen as Obama Snubs Zardari
GUARDIAN: Nato Protests:
How Big were the Crowds
of Demonstrators in Chicago?
INDEPENDENT: Obama, Cameron
Admit Afghans Face Terror
Threat after NATO Withdrawal

Die Welt, Germany Merkel Fires Obama; Takes Hollande to the Woodshed TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Merkel said that French and U.S. recalcitrance is getting on her nerves, and that sometimes even her patience runs short. She announced, ‘I have asked [German President] Gauck for Barack Obama's dismissal from the Oval Office. Obama was clearly taken by surprise and left the conference hall in tears.” — —COLUMNIST Hans Zippert GERMANS SPOOF GERMAN DOMINANCE

Le Monde, France Francois Hollande: French Socialist Visits Washington TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Thirty one years ago, the arrival of a socialist to power provoked astonishment and nervousness in Washington. A generation later, what a difference! Hollande was received by Obama on Friday. And no more prejudice toward France's left remains. ” — EDITORIAL, Le Monde

NATO TV, Brussels VIDEO: Protests Against NATO Summit in Chicago May 19, 00:05:36 "I'm protesting anythung that has anything to do with the military industrial complex. That is why I am here.” — Unnamed Protester in Chicago NATO SUMMIT BEGINS IN CHICAGO

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Germany Isolated Over Euro Crisis Plan at G8 “German Chancellor Merkel resisted pressure for fresh measures that would include looser monetary policy for the European Central Bank, enabling quantitative easing similar to that deployed by the FED and Bank of England.” — CORRESPONDENT Patrick Wintour G8 2012: A MUDDLED OUTCOME

BBC NEWS VIDEO:
Despite Informal Setting at
Camp David, Deals Prove Hard

GUARDIAN LIVE BLOG: G8
Summit and NATO Protests
in Chicago – Saturday May 19
GUARDIAN: Chicago Police
Accused of Planting Evidence
in 'Molotov Cocktail' Plot
GUARDIAN: Lack of New
Funding for Poverty Fight
at G8 Disappoints NGOs
GUARDIAN: G8 Leaders
End Summit with Pledge to
Keep Greece in Eurozone

Le Figaro, France Obama and Hollande Say What Merkel Doesn't Want to Hear TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “This Franco-American alliance threatens to thwart Angela Merkel, who wants Greece to hold a referendum on the euro alongside parliamentary polls.” — COLUMNIST Pierre Rousselin OPENING MERKEL'S PURSE

Moscow Times, Russia Why Putin Skipped Out on G8 Summit “Putin wants to avoid unwelcome questions that may arise such as electoral fraud, threats of preemptive strikes on American missile defense sites, etc.” — COLUMNIST Michael Bohm

RUSSIA TODAY VIDEO:
Demonstrators Descend on
Chicago for G8 'Showdown'

MOSCOW TIMES: Kremlin
Aide Tries to Smooth Over Flap
Over Putin's Absense from G8
RIA Novosti: President Putin
Signals Foreign Policy Shift

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Obama Caught Between Competing Visions for Fixing Eurozone Crisis “Mr. Obama, first African- American president of the Harvard Law Review, was born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii.” — CORRESPONDENTS Patrick Wintour and Ewen MacAskill

Deutsche Welle, Germany Why Moscow says 'Nyet' to NATO Defense System “NATO member states want an anti-missile defense system in case of attack from Iran or North Korea - but Russia feels threatened and has warned it will retaliateto protect itself.” — COLUMNIST Roman Goncharenko VLADIMIR PUTIN IS NOT AMUSED

DEUTCHE WELLE:
NATO Summit to Debate
Global-Policeman Role

The Telegraph, U.K. Obama's Literary Agent is Found to Have said He was 'Born in Kenya' “Mr. Obama, first African- American president of the Harvard Law Review, was born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii.” — Booklet Describing Obama's First Book

The Sun, U.K. Donna Summers said to Have Blamed Lung Cancer on Sept. 11 Poison Cloud “My husband and I were walking down the street. I had this feeling. I said, ‘Honey, I feel terrorism, high on top the buildings.’ I knew something was going to happen. When it did, I flipped out.” — SINGER Donna Summer DONNA SUMMER: KILLED BY 9-11?

Der Spiegel, Germany Atlantic Council Slams Germany's NATO Role “Europe cannot remain a major force within the NATO Alliance if a country of Germany's size, location, and prosperity makes the kind of deep reductions in defense spending made by Chancellor Angela Merkel's government in 2011.” — Atlantic Council Report

DER SPIEGEL: Germany's NATO
Reputation Hits Rock Bottom
DER SPIEGEL: West's Afghan
Workers Fear NATO Withdrawal
TELEGRAPH: David Cameron
to Seek Obama's Backing for
Tapping Emergency Oil Reserves
DER SPIEGEL: G8 Summit
- Graphic Lessons in
Stimulus Versus Austerity
TELEGRAPH: G8 Summit
- Who's on the Guest List

BBC News, U.K. Monsieur Hollande: Obama's New Friend “The French, President Barack Obama likes to remind us, are America's oldest allies. France's new socialist President, Francois Hollande, may turn out to be a valuable new friend as well.” — CORRESPONDENT Marc Mardell G8 SUMMIT AT CAMP DAVID

The Telegraph, U.K. Obama's Literary Agent is Found to Have said He was 'Born in Kenya' “Mr. Obama, first African- American president of the Harvard Law Review, was born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii.” — Booklet Describing Obama's First Book

Le Figaro, France Gay Marriage Controversy Uncomfortable for Romney TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Now he sees gays turning their backs on him, not only because of Obama’s declaration on gays, but because he got rid of Richard Grenell, his openly-gay foreign policy spokesperson. No wonder he is doing everything he can to change the subject.” — COLUMNIST Jean Sébastien Stehli ROMNEY SEEKS TO CHANGE SUBJECT

News, Switzerland ‘Hate and Fear’ Dominate Opponents of Gay Marriage TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “They have no trouble attributing characteristics to them (insatiable sexual appetites, lifestyles marked by instability, amoral behavior) like those that were long used to denigrate relationships between White women and Black men.” — COLUMNIST Patrik Etschmayer BRISTOL PALIN WEIGHS IN ON MARRIAGE

Der Spiegel, Germany The Cost of Upgrading U.S. Nuclear Weapons 'Massive' “The Life Extension Program (LEP) for the B61 - of which there are between 160 and 200 in Europe - is considered difficult and vey expensive.” — CORRESPONDENT Markus Becker

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. The 'Wrong Carlos': How Texas Sent to Death Innocent Man “Columbia law school study shows in shocking detail the flaws that led to the 1989 execution of Carlos DeLuna.” — COLUMNIST Ed Pilkington WHEN EXECUTION GOES AWRY

Gazeta Wyborcza, Polish Former President Kwasniewski Admits He Allowed CIA Prisons TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “If a CIA agent brutally mistreated a prisoner at the Marriott hotel in Warsaw, would you accuse the hotel management as being responsible for the actions of the CIA agent?” — Former Poland President Aleksander Kwasniewski IS POLAND RESPONSIBLE FOR CIA AVTIVITY?

leJDD, France Gay Marriage: Obama Puts His Finger to Political Wind TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Obama has a keen perception of these issues: he is never very far out in front, even while he maintains himself slightly ahead. I am betting that Obama will soon speak of a multi-religious America. ... That would be a new way of pushing back Republicans into their trenches.” — François Durpaire, author, historian on U.S. political life OBAMA: A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME?

Russia Today, Russia VIDEO: Convicted Weapons Trafficker Viktor Bout Says U.S. Justice is Politicized May 13, 00:11:26 “The entire trial was very similar to the midevil trial of inquisition in which you must confeess that you did bad things. ... What is happening to me is purely political.” — Russian Businessman and Arms Trafficker Viktor Bout U.S. LEGAL SYSTEM OUT OF CONTROL?

France TV, France Is France Behind America on Same-Sex Marriage? TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “French law limits gay unions to something similar to civil unions, called ‘pacte civil de solidarité.’ No gay marriages, even if celebrated abroad, are recognized on its territory.” — COLUMNIST Camille Caldini

NU, The Netherlands Marriage in America: ‘Man, Woman and God’ TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH “Republicans argue that America will be a pool of irreversible moral decay if Obama's plans continue. That sounds idiotic to Europeans. Have the Netherlands been struck down by God’s wrath since we’ve allowed gay marriage? Well then!” — COLUMNIST Charles Groenhuijsen WILL OBAMA'S GAMBIT PAY OFF?

La Repubblica, Italy Guerilla Files Exposed: ‘CIA Funding for the Dalai Lama’ TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “It isn’t that the Dalai Lama lied, but that up to now he certainly has not provided the whole truth of his ties to the armed resistance.” — CORRESPONDENT Andrea Tarquini DALAI LAMA: TEMPORAL VS. SPIRITUAL

FAZ, Germany Dalai Lama ‘Rambo’ TRANSLATED GERMAN “Pope John Paul II had connections with the CIA that were central to the Eastern Bloc collapsing without so much as a murmur. … In his early days, the other ‘Holiness’ also took advantage CIA funding and support.” — COLUMNIST Christian Geyer DALAI LAMA: OUT OF LINE?

La Stampa, Italy Eurozone Torn, Even When it Comes to Disney Characters! TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “Italy seems to be walking its own path. While the winner outside our country’s borders is Mickey Mouse, the hero par excellence and top villain of the Disney Universe among the Italians is Captain Hook.” — CORRESPONDENT Adriana Marmiroli ITALY'S FAVORITE DISNEY HERO/VILLIAN

Dziennik, Poland Komorowski Thanks Obama for Helping Dispel ‘Vicious, and Unjustified Language’ TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “Obama expressed his support for actions to eradicate painful phrases like this from the public dialogue. ... There is a lesson, not just for today but for the future. ... This should be seen as an opportunity to draw strong, new impetus, as well as a partner in our struggle to dispel this vicious, painful, and unjustified words from U.S. public discourse.” — Poland President Bronislaw Komorowski POLAND: DEATH CAMP CASE 'CLOSED'

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Syria: Why Russia Has Changed Tack “Moscow's step toward backing Bashar al-Assad's dethronement owes a lot to Putin's unsentimental calculations of what is to Russia's national advantage.” — COLUMNIST Simon Tisdall

SIMON TISDALL: Arab Spring
Uprisings: The Scorecard

La Stampa, Italian Obama: Gay Marriage, Political Calculation and American Idealism TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN “Whatever Europeans may think, how fascinating is the charisma of a Republic that for two and a half centuries, through defeat and triumph, has pursued equality and the happiness of guaranteeing universal rights for all, before God and the law?” — COLUMNIST Gianni Riotta EQUAL RIGHTS BATTLE GOES ON

The Mirror, U.K. Francios Hollande First French President to Visit British D-Day War Graves “Ranville Cemetery contains the graves of 2,564 British soldiers who died early on June 6, 1944 after landing by glider and parachute.” — REPORTER Adrian Shaw

The Telegraph, U.K. Barbara Walters Sorry for Helping Assad Aide “When confronted with the emails, which were obtained by the Syrian opposition, the 82-year- old ABC broadcaster admitted to a conflict of interest and expressed 'regret' for her actions.” — CORRESPONDENT Raf Sanchez

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Wisconsin Democrats Dealt a Bitter Blow in Courageous Battle
'SECOND' TERM	“Organized labor took a huge risk in mounting a challenge to Scott Walker and lost. But they shouldn't react with regret.” —COLUMNIST Gary Younge

BBC VIDEO: Republican
Governor Survives Wisconsin Recall

Der Spiegel, Germany Why the World Cannot Stop the Killing in Syria “The United States has lost the authority to restore peace after the turmoil of Iraq. Russia alone has the power to topple Assad and avert a civil war, but Putin has so fat refused to do so.” — COLUMNIST Ullrich Fichtner

Daily Mail, U.K. America's Mysterious Space Plane to Land after YEAR in Orbit - but What Did it Do? “Many sceptics think that the vehicle's mission is defence or spy-related. There are rumors that the craft has been kept in space to spy on China's new space station, Tiangong.” — REPORTER Rob Waugh AMERICA'S 'SECRET' SPACE PROGRAM

Russia Today, Russia VIDEO: World Tomorrow: Julian Assange and Guests, Members of Cypher Punks June 5, 00:29:22 "Cyber threats, hacker attacks and laws officially intended to tackle internet piracy are in fact nfringing on people's right to online privacy. Assange hosts activists from the Cypherpunk movement to discuss the issue." THE INVISIBLE INTERNET WAR

Trouw, The Netherlands Across West, Populists on the Left and Right Find New Scapegoats TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH “Scapegoats and simplistic measures only serve to get voters on your side. The mobilizing effects, and not the genuine results, are considered most important.” — COLUMNIST Rob de Wijk WILL ANOTHER HITLER EMERGE?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Tea Party and Occupy Activists Rub Shoulders at Bilderberg Protest “With protest entering its third day in good spirits, even police officers raise odd smiles holding the line.” — CORRESPONDENT Ryan Devereauxg

GUARDIAN: Bilderberg 2012 -
Real Men Don't Like Oligarchs

CHANNEL 8 NEWS, TEXAS:
Rick Perry Is Asked About
'His Tea Party' At Bilderberg

NZZ, Switzerland Massacre at Houla is No ‘Turning Point’ for Syria TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Under current conditions, it will be difficult and costly to determine what happened at Houla within a practical time frame. In the meantime, the atrocity continues to serves as fodder for additional war propaganda on both sides.” — COLUMNIST Martin Woker WHAT PRICE THE UNSPEAKABLE?

The Independent, U.K. Mubarak Will Die in Jail, No Thanks to Us
FACING FACTS	“The army runs Egypt today. And we Westerners like like armies. The U.S. likes armies.” —COLUMNIST Robert Fisk

BBC, U.K. Scars of Iraq War Haunt American Policy in Syria “This is all reminiscent of the 1990s and President Clinton's for action in Bosnia or Rwanda.” — CORRESPONDENT Mark Urban

Daily Mail, U.K. 'Beware Rerun of Panic of 2008': World Bank Chief Robert Zoellick “There will not be time for meetings of finance ministers to discuss the outlook and debate the politics. ... 'In panicked markets, investors flee to safe assets, sparking additional global flames.” — WORLD BANK President Robert Zoellick

Guardian Unlimited, Spain Bilderberg 2012: The Technocrats are Rising “It's all change at Bilderberg this year: a new chairman, new media and the Occupy Bilderberg movement knocking at the gates.” — GUARDIAN'S 'Man' at Bilderberg READY FOR OCCUPY BILDERBERG?

The Telegraph, U.K. The Real Dilemma on Syria: Can the West Go it Alone? “The massacre of the innocents in Houla has turned a simmering diplomatic dispute with Russia into an escalating clash.” — COLUMNIST David Blair

THE TELEGRAPH: U.S.
Raises Prospect of
Intervention in Syria

Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany GM Prevails in Pitting European Workers Against One Another TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Not the best workers - but the cheapest - were the ones that won the bid. The GM Group is pursuing internal wage-dumping. … In GM's world, it is every man for himself.” — COLUMNIST Thomas Fromm AMERICAN-STYLE CAPITALISM?

Telegraph, U.K. Obama Insults Poles “Last night Obama caused huge offense in Poland by referring to a Nazi death camp in Poland as 'a Polish death camp' as he awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to a fighter of the Poland's Resistance.” — COLUMNIST Nile Gardiner

Financial Times, U.K. Rockefellers and Rothschilds Unite “The transatlantic union of 96-year-old David Rockefeller, and Lord Rothschild, 76 – two family patriarchs whose relationship spans five decades.” — Atlantic Council Report

THE ECONOMIST: Lord
Rothschild: Full of 'Gilt'

El Diario Exterior, Spain America’s ‘Unamerican’ Bout of Ethnic Neurosis TRANSLATED FROM SPANISH “Nothing is more contrary to the nature of the United States than the classification of people by race, culture or gender. Nowhere in the U.S. Constitution, or in the 85 essays of The Federalist Papers (where Madison, Hamilton and Jay explain the reach and meaning of the document), is there the slightest allusion to anything but the rules and institutions by which the new republic would be governed.” — COLUMNIST Carlos Alberto Montaner A WORRY QUICKLY DIMINISHING

Daily Mail, U.K. Yes, Syria is Tragic, But U.K. Intervention Would be Madness “The truth about the violence in Syria is far more complex than Assad's enemies would have us believe.” — COLUMNIST John Bradley

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Before Syria Crisis Expands, Obama and NATO Should Act “Obama's 'shrug your shoulders' Syria policy, faithfully imitated by the Unitted Kindom and the rest of the do-nothing NATO crew, is no longer sustainable politically, strategically, morally.” — —COLUMNIST Simon Tisdall

The Independent, U.K. The West is Horrified by Syria Childrens' Slaughter. But We Will Soon Forget
INDIGNATION	“We in the West will soon forget when another YouTube image of death flicks on our screens from the Syrian countryside. Or from Yemen. Or a new revolution.” —COLUMNIST Robert Fisk

INDEPENDENT: $33 Million
Raid on Pakistan Shows that, in
the End, Hypocrisy Will Win

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Massacre at Houla: U.S. Military Warns Syria as Obama Feels Pressure “There is always a military option. Military leaders are somewhat cautious about the use of force, because we're never sure of what comes out the other side. But that said, it may come to that point with Syria because of the atrocities.” — GENERAL Martin Dempsey, Chairman of U.S. Joint Chiefs DEMPSEY TAKES OUT BIG STICK

TELEGRAPH: Russia Refuses
to Alter Position on Syria

El Pais, Spain Ronald Reagan’s Blood: The Civil Relic with a Difference TRANSLATED FROM SPANISH “Perhaps in the future, it may be used to clone the president who embodied neoliberalism. But then again, in the light of what is happening today, that might not be such a good idea.” — COLUMNIST Marcos Balfagon WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE U.S AND BLOOD?

DNA, France At Loggerheads Over Afghanistan, the Euro … and So Much More TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “It's astounding: NATO says it may take three years to retrieve from Afghanistan - a country without railway lines - the 122,000 tanks, 70,000 vehicles (carrier, armored, artillery …) and 140,000 troops of ISAF. That is, provided a convoy leaves every seven minutes, weather permitting, every day, along roads that are either tough or impossible.” — COLUMNIST Jean-Claude Kiefer THE LOGISTICS OF GOING HOME

Financial Times, U.K. America, Pakistan and that Dysfunctional Relationship “With anti-American sentiment still running high in Pakistan, fueled by ongoing drone attacks, politicians in the United States are getting even more strident in their criticism of Islamabad.” — COLUMNIST Geoff Dyer

Diario Economico, Portugal Utopia Lost?: European Dream is Over Without Far Greater Federalism TRANSLATED FROM PORTUGUESE “Germans, still traumatized by the hyperinflation that brought Hitler to power, will not allow for additional inflation. … Will people and leaders exit their trenches and follow a common path? At this point there are more doubts than certainties.” — COLUMNIST Claudia Major IS IT CURTAINS FOR EUROLAND?

Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Germany ‘Lost Nation’ of Germany: NATO’s Biggest Problem TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Germany is untrustworthy and its military weakness hurts the Alliance. ... The German position is also diametrically opposed to the needs of E.U. security.” — Vice Admiral Ulrich Weisser GERMANY LAGGING ON SECURITY

Le Monde, France French Journalists Cover the G8: YAWN! TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH Ever wonder what it’s like to cover a summit at a place like Camp David, with some of the most powerful people on earth? — EDITORIAL, Le Monde

Die Tageszeitung, Germany Group of Eight Now the ‘Clueless Eight’ TRANSLATED GERMAN “What Obama, Hollande and Merkel produced isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on. All of the platitudes and formulaic compromises are meant to cover up the fact that they have not the foggiest notion of how to fix the euro.” — COLUMNIST Eric Bonse WHY DO WE KEEP THE G8?

Le Monde, France Francois Hollande: French Socialist Visits Washington TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Thirty one years ago, the arrival of a socialist to power provoked astonishment and nervousness in Washington. A generation later, what a difference! Hollande was received by Obama on Friday. And no more prejudice toward France's left remains. ” — EDITORIAL, Le Monde

Le Monde, France Alleged Washington Gang Rape Victim Talks Against Dominique Strauss Kahn TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “I tried to get away but it was difficult because he was on top of me and was very heavy. … I kept saying I didn’t want to ... I didn’t scream, but said clearly several times aloud ... I tried to get away ... but Dominique Strauss-Kahn pinned me down.” — —‘Marion,’ Paid to party with DSK at Washington’s W Hotel DSK: ON CHARGES FOR RAPE IN U.S.

Russia Today, Russia VIDEO: World Tomorrow: Julian Assange and Guest Ecuador President Correa May 22, 00:46:10 "The only country that can be sure never to have a Coup d'état is the United States - because it doesn't have a U.S. Embassy. .. I will always call a spade a spade. ... I will never let my country be affected by them [the U.S.]." — Ecuador President Rafael Correa CORREA: SPEAKING FOR LATIN LEFT

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland Dire Straits for Europe Absent Less Nationalism and More Cooperation TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “A new European security pact should allow for the strengthening of Europe's defense identity … and as a result, address self-interest, nationalism and all they entail.” — —Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, European Parliament Member CAN EUROPE UNITE TO SAVE NATO?

Knack, The Netherlands Days of ‘Superfluous’ G-8 are Numbered TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH “In 2012, holding in-depth discussions about global economic problems with the conspicuous absence of China, India, Brazil, Turkey, South Korea and the Saudis is decidedly unrealistic.” — COLUMNIST Johan van Overtveldt

The Independent, U.K. Megrahi is Dead. Now We'll Never Know the Truth about Lockerbie
DIRTY HANDS	“If he was wrongly convicted, what did he do in the service of his master? ... I've gone through these files and I long ago concluded that the were devastating.” —COLUMNIST Robert Fisk

INDEPENDENT: No Closure
for the Lockerbie Families

Die Zeit, Germany Price of NATO Survival: Diminished Sovereignty TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “NATO member states fear a loss of control. But they have no choice if they want to halt the military alliance's decay.” — COLUMNIST Claudia Major CAN NATO SURVIVE THESE TIMES?

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Nato and G8 Summits: What Have we Learned? “World leaders will leave Chicago Monday night after some of the most intensive negotiations of the year on eradicating hunger to the eurozone crisis and ending the Afghanistan war. So what was the outcome?” — COLUMNIST Ewen MacAskill

Die Welt, Germany Merkel Fires Obama; Takes Hollande to the Woodshed TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “Merkel said that French and U.S. recalcitrance is getting on her nerves, and that sometimes even her patience runs short. She announced, ‘I have asked [German President] Gauck for Barack Obama's dismissal from the Oval Office. Obama was clearly taken by surprise and left the conference hall in tears.” — —COLUMNIST Hans Zippert GERMANS SPOOF GERMAN DOMINANCE

Le Monde, France Francois Hollande: French Socialist Visits Washington TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Thirty one years ago, the arrival of a socialist to power provoked astonishment and nervousness in Washington. A generation later, what a difference! Hollande was received by Obama on Friday. And no more prejudice toward France's left remains. ” — EDITORIAL, Le Monde

NATO TV, Brussels VIDEO: Protests Against NATO Summit in Chicago May 19, 00:05:36 "I'm protesting anythung that has anything to do with the military industrial complex. That is why I am here.” — Unnamed Protester in Chicago NATO SUMMIT BEGINS IN CHICAGO

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Germany Isolated Over Euro Crisis Plan at G8 “German Chancellor Merkel resisted pressure for fresh measures that would include looser monetary policy for the European Central Bank, enabling quantitative easing similar to that deployed by the FED and Bank of England.” — CORRESPONDENT Patrick Wintour G8 2012: A MUDDLED OUTCOME

Le Figaro, France Obama and Hollande Say What Merkel Doesn't Want to Hear TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “This Franco-American alliance threatens to thwart Angela Merkel, who wants Greece to hold a referendum on the euro alongside parliamentary polls.” — COLUMNIST Pierre Rousselin OPENING MERKEL'S PURSE

Moscow Times, Russia Why Putin Skipped Out on G8 Summit “Putin wants to avoid unwelcome questions that may arise such as electoral fraud, threats of preemptive strikes on American missile defense sites, etc.” — COLUMNIST Michael Bohm

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. Obama Caught Between Competing Visions for Fixing Eurozone Crisis “Mr. Obama, first African- American president of the Harvard Law Review, was born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii.” — CORRESPONDENTS Patrick Wintour and Ewen MacAskill

Deutsche Welle, Germany Why Moscow says 'Nyet' to NATO Defense System “NATO member states want an anti-missile defense system in case of attack from Iran or North Korea - but Russia feels threatened and has warned it will retaliateto protect itself.” — COLUMNIST Roman Goncharenko VLADIMIR PUTIN IS NOT AMUSED

DEUTCHE WELLE:
NATO Summit to Debate
Global-Policeman Role

The Telegraph, U.K. Obama's Literary Agent is Found to Have said He was 'Born in Kenya' “Mr. Obama, first African- American president of the Harvard Law Review, was born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii.” — Booklet Describing Obama's First Book

The Sun, U.K. Donna Summers said to Have Blamed Lung Cancer on Sept. 11 Poison Cloud “My husband and I were walking down the street. I had this feeling. I said, ‘Honey, I feel terrorism, high on top the buildings.’ I knew something was going to happen. When it did, I flipped out.” — SINGER Donna Summer DONNA SUMMER: KILLED BY 9-11?

Der Spiegel, Germany Atlantic Council Slams Germany's NATO Role “Europe cannot remain a major force within the NATO Alliance if a country of Germany's size, location, and prosperity makes the kind of deep reductions in defense spending made by Chancellor Angela Merkel's government in 2011.” — Atlantic Council Report

BBC News, U.K. Monsieur Hollande: Obama's New Friend “The French, President Barack Obama likes to remind us, are America's oldest allies. France's new socialist President, Francois Hollande, may turn out to be a valuable new friend as well.” — CORRESPONDENT Marc Mardell G8 SUMMIT AT CAMP DAVID

The Telegraph, U.K. Obama's Literary Agent is Found to Have said He was 'Born in Kenya' “Mr. Obama, first African- American president of the Harvard Law Review, was born in Kenya and raised in Indonesia and Hawaii.” — Booklet Describing Obama's First Book

Le Figaro, France Gay Marriage Controversy Uncomfortable for Romney TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Now he sees gays turning their backs on him, not only because of Obama’s declaration on gays, but because he got rid of Richard Grenell, his openly-gay foreign policy spokesperson. No wonder he is doing everything he can to change the subject.” — COLUMNIST Jean Sébastien Stehli ROMNEY SEEKS TO CHANGE SUBJECT

News, Switzerland ‘Hate and Fear’ Dominate Opponents of Gay Marriage TRANSLATED FROM GERMAN “They have no trouble attributing characteristics to them (insatiable sexual appetites, lifestyles marked by instability, amoral behavior) like those that were long used to denigrate relationships between White women and Black men.” — COLUMNIST Patrik Etschmayer BRISTOL PALIN WEIGHS IN ON MARRIAGE

Der Spiegel, Germany The Cost of Upgrading U.S. Nuclear Weapons 'Massive' “The Life Extension Program (LEP) for the B61 - of which there are between 160 and 200 in Europe - is considered difficult and vey expensive.” — CORRESPONDENT Markus Becker

Guardian Unlimited, U.K. The 'Wrong Carlos': How Texas Sent to Death Innocent Man “Columbia law school study shows in shocking detail the flaws that led to the 1989 execution of Carlos DeLuna.” — COLUMNIST Ed Pilkington WHEN EXECUTION GOES AWRY

Gazeta Wyborcza, Polish Former President Kwasniewski Admits He Allowed CIA Prisons TRANSLATED FROM POLISH “If a CIA agent brutally mistreated a prisoner at the Marriott hotel in Warsaw, would you accuse the hotel management as being responsible for the actions of the CIA agent?” — Former Poland President Aleksander Kwasniewski IS POLAND RESPONSIBLE FOR CIA AVTIVITY?

leJDD, France Gay Marriage: Obama Puts His Finger to Political Wind TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “Obama has a keen perception of these issues: he is never very far out in front, even while he maintains himself slightly ahead. I am betting that Obama will soon speak of a multi-religious America. ... That would be a new way of pushing back Republicans into their trenches.” — François Durpaire, author, historian on U.S. political life OBAMA: A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME?

Russia Today, Russia VIDEO: Convicted Weapons Trafficker Viktor Bout Says U.S. Justice is Politicized May 13, 00:11:26 “The entire trial was very similar to the midevil trial of inquisition in which you must confeess that you did bad things. ... What is happening to me is purely political.” — Russian Businessman and Arms Trafficker Viktor Bout U.S. LEGAL SYSTEM OUT OF CONTROL?

France TV, France Is France Behind America on Same-Sex Marriage? TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH “French law limits gay unions to something similar to civil unions, called ‘pacte civil de solidarité.’ No gay marriages, even if celebrated abroad, are recognized on its territory.” — COLUMNIST Camille Caldini

NU, The Netherlands Marriage in America: ‘Man, Woman and God’ TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH “Republicans argue that America will be a pool of irreversible moral decay if Obama's plans continue. That sounds idiotic to Europeans. Have the Netherlands been struck down by God’s wrath since we’ve allowed gay marriage? Well then!” — COLUMNIST Charles Groenhuijsen WILL OBAMA'S GAMBIT PAY OFF?

“Once again the Nov. 6 election dealt a blow to the widely peddled myth that this is an electoral group with simplistic political behavior: that American Jews would back the candidate most swayed by Israeli politics. It has again been shown - nothing could be further from the truth.

“It is rather embarrassing, as well as sad, that the leader of the free world can’t even pronounce the name of the most famous human rights activist on earth. Or that he is so quick to appease the Burma regime by calling it 'Myanmar.'”

“Is there nothing to stop this nonsense, this garbage war? Hundreds of rockets fall on Israel. True. Thousands of acres of land are stolen from Arabs – for Jews and Jews only. There isn't enough land left there now for a Palestinian state.”

“The reelection of U.S. President Barack Obama will allow many in Moscow to take a sigh of relief: the Cold War is canceled. This is, in fact, what the 2012 American presidential campaign means for Moscow.”

“The world is still waiting for Nobel Peace laureate Barack Obama to earn his prize. But the American people made a good choice. ... Thank you.”

“There are armchairs in which it is not good to sit for too long. 'We new men are no better than those who came before us,' confessed Emperor Hadrian. 'Power only serves to soil us.'

“A first indicator of things to come can already be seen: even in the age of social media, election campaigns continue to pour most of their cash into television - and it seems they are becoming increasingly nasty”

“Romney's declarations gave us more hope - but he lost. Unfortunately, Mr. Obama has a long track record of failing to satisfy the desires of Poles.”

“Critics are suggest Romney's campaign foundered at the hands of amateurs. Moreover, it will take some time to digest the depths of the catastrophe that befell them.”

“Never can the toolkit of political debate have been so empty and the task of understanding the world so titanic.”

“In purely pragmatic and political terms, as seen from the White House, why would the old/new president cultivate special ties with the old/sick continent? ... Consequently, in his second term, his views on Europe will be even more skeptical and detached.”

“Americans preferred to maintain the same imperfect balance and uncertain plans of the incumbent over the economic voodoo of his riskier Republican opponent. And rightly so.”

“The sale and speed of the rout has surprised traders. The looming U.S. fiscal cliff, the crisis in Europe, and the weak state of the global economy are being blamed.”

“Tea Party zealots, homophobes and misogynists hijacked Romney's campaign – and threaten the Republican party's future.”

“The euphoria of 2008 has gone, but the U.S. president's second win is remarkable precisely because it isn't as symbolic.”

“It is appalling to see the world in suspended animation, just because the two most powerful nations are busy with themselves.”

“The threat of criminal sanctions against OSCE/ODIHR observers is unacceptable. The United States, like all countries in the OSCE, has an obligation to invite ODIHR observers to observe its elections.”

“French fans had little love for the American - to put it mildly. They accused him of wicked deeds of doping. It turns out they were right.”

“And where was Europe in all this? Not far from Australia in the battle for the position of most forgotten continent. ...”

“The president did better than an unconvincing Romney – but it's hard to imagine this changed minds or won hearts.”

“It's finished. Obama came off as more confident and coherent on foreign policy ... but Romney survived fairly unscathed. Obama less aggressive than the second debate. Romney less aggressive than the first. In all, a little dull.”

“It is difficult to disagree about the imperial power of America and the 'civilized' values we chaps are still trying to teach those chaps in the Arab world.”

“The leader of a democratic country cannot, like Stalin, stigmatize Hitler today, and then sign a pact with him to divide Europe tomorrow. ... in terms of lies and violence, totalitarianism is more effective than democracy.”

“The black and white Cold War mentality looks all the more absurd in the contextof the tectonic shifts taking place before our eyes ... Mitt Romney, who readily repeats his idea that Russia is America's leading foe, is the only such politician-reanimator of that ilk today.”

“Castro wrote a sharp letterof protest about Moscow's giving in [to Kennedy]. The Cuban revolutionary also refused to return his heavy Soviet arms, blaming Stalin's envoy for betraying Cuba.”

"The idea was to find someone [a wife] with the same mentality as him, so that both would be killed in a U.S. drone attack.”

“With 52 deaths so far, it has been the bloodiest deployment of German troops since the end of World War II. But it is over. ... skepticism is growing about what progress will remain once foreign troops have left.”

“The U.S., Google and Facebook have begun a lobbying offensive against an E.U. data privacy law that would strengthen user rights to have personal data deleted.”

“With this sordid backdrop, there is a consolation. ... In Italy, the fight against doping makes no concessions: if Armstrong had lived in Italy, he may have been caught more quickly than he was in the United States.”

“Romney has been rather pugnacious at points. Here he gestures towards the president when talkingabout the tragic events in Benghazi, Libya. But the strong posturing backfired.”

“Time and again, he interrupted both Romney and the moderator. He may not have sniggered and laughed out loud but there was an air of the Joe Biden playbook.”

“Romney puts up fight against more decisive opponent but can't overcome the president's sharp delivery.”

“The shock decision will be hailed as a big milestone for those who have campaigned against the perceived one- sided nature of Britian's extradition pact with the U.S.”

“Few will have thought, or even heard of, Mansa Musa I of Mali, an obscure 14th century African king who was today named the richest person in history.”

“Mothers of victims of the Srebrenica massacre watching from the public gallery snorted in derision and shock, shouting out 'He's lying! He's lying!'”

“Americans or Israelis will bomb Iran's nuclear facilities, but this won't finish it. Iran would inevitably fire rockets at Israel and ask its friends from Lebanese Hezbullah to do the same. What comes next is anyone's guess.”

“If there were no Joe Biden, we journalists would have to invent one. His verbal slipups can't be beat. ... But at the debate, Biden put up exactly the kind of spirited fight that the Obama campaign needs.”

“A boisterous Joe Biden led a riproaring counterattack on Republicans, using his debate with Paul Ryan to repeatedly criticize - and openly laugh at – his opponents' policies.”

“Gifwise, it's definitely been Biden's night.”

“What so puzzles me is the sight of Islamists invading embassies and killing people, all in the name of their religion, without a word from advocates of freedom.”

“He kept his eyes down and flashed smiles too wide to have been sincere. Then he embarked on complicated explanations to justify his actions in the White House, which made him look like a president should never look: as if he were a 'non leader.'”

“If Romney is made president, the phrase 'I don't want to go down the path to Spain,' which he delivered at the worst time in Spain's recent history, will haunt him whenever he must have contact with our country.”

“This is a country is too big not to be better understood by some. But don’t you worry, we will try to explain it to them. I think we have very little to envy when it comes to other peoples, and that includes the Americans. ... And by the way, we are also very proud of our welfare state.”

“The do-nothing hand-wringing favored by Turkey's allies may not be politically sustainable as the Syrian crisis spreads.”

“Romney could have used other examples, but he didn't; he gave the example of Spain, and everyone seemed to understand the the subliminal message.”

“No longer can he be dismissed with a gag about a dog strapped to his car roof. This uptight rich guy could be the next president.”

“Unable up to now to look at Obama as critically as they evaluate Romney, journalists will now have to take account of the a good performance a man they will not vote for.”

“Imagine an America in which anyone can download and print a gun in their own home. They wouldn't need a background check, a license, or very much technical knowledge, just a 3D printer. That's the vision a cadre of dedicated libertarians are determined to make reality.”

“ After a number of reboots and roll-outs he finally found his voice. He wasn't likeable, but he was believable. Fluent, strident, confident – he made his case.”

“So far from Mitt Romney there's been more waffle than zinger. But when you have a 'no details tax plan' that's what happens I guess.”

“The importance of America has declined; a giant with feet of clayand a $16 trillion debt - a bankrupt country that has its hands too full with its own problems to remain involved with the world. ... Why should I care under which president the Americans live?”

“The largest, the longest, the costliest and the cruelest exercise in democracy on earth approaches its climax.”

“The giant of search engines has seen off its commercial rivals. Now it's locked in a series of increasingly fierce fights with many governments.”

“Even if it sounds like blasphemy: she is no saint. The reverence that Suu Kyi is regarded with hides her weakness. It hampers an analysis of political mistakes and shortcomings.”

“Some local people seem a tad ungrateful. They have labeled Mr. Panetta, a former CIA chief, the 'warlord of the world' and say he should be arrested and sent for trial in The Hague. They pay no heed to Washington's 'anti-China' Asia-Pacific security agenda.”

“This glitch of a command sent to the wrong capsule address is just the latest chapter in a book full of misadventures in space.”

“We would rather side with the white knights who have the courage to stand up to dangerous extremists capable of setting their offices ablaze.”

“If I move to Ireland and buy a house, I can run for president of Ireland thanks to my Irish heritage. ... ”

“There is one question one must ask in light of Romney, and some of the other clowns who vied for the Republican nomination: What's going on with Republicans? Isn't the party more out of touch with reality than the Democrats they denounce as elitist?”

“The next few months threaten to be dangerous. Several severe regional economic and political crises could combine into a mega- crisis, which will in turn create very serious global shockwaves.”

“Is Islam so vulnerable, so fragile, so threatened wherever it is practiced? Can a work of fiction, a cartoon or a very bad film damage Muslim values and thought? In principle, no.”

“That a politician has voluntarily branded himself a cold-hearted capitalist is astonishing. ... We Germans have a very hard time understanding why Americans still want to vote for Romney.”

"I will pay whoever kills the makers of this video $100,000. If someone else makes other similar blasphemous material in the future, I will also pay those who kill him $100,000."

“The concern of the United States is understandable. Their troops on the ground are confronted with thisviolence. But it is extremely clumsy to respond to it with a call for censorship.”

“The order anticipates violent protest over the publishing of cartoons of The Prophet Muhammad by satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. The obscene cartoons have renewed anger among Muslims after more than a week of deadly protest sparked by a U.S.-made video.”

“At the convention, she left the stage to a standing ovation, with her head bowed, not overdoing it - aware, perhaps, that the true revolution can be found in her, a girl from the Black ghetto standing at the center of White power, and that the game is not yet over.”

“If as president, Romney acts on even of a sliverof his declarations, we would stand to benefit. And if he ends up being overwhelmed by reality and was unable to do so, we would lose nothing. With Obama, we know exactly where we stand.”

“The old fear that democracy will allow the poor to fleece property owners has never disappeared. Of course, there is a grain of truth in it.”

“Putin finally realizes that the American political class will offer us no one better than liberal Barack Obama.”

“The Senkaku dispute isthe latest episode in a long history of conflict – and the Americans are increasingly nervous.”

“The U.S. has suspended joint operations because of a collapse in trust after a surge in the number of Americans and other NATO soldiers killed by men they are fighting with or training.”

“The conflict over the film Innocence of Muslims raises questions about how far the West is prepared to go in defending free expression.”

“Romney's comment might contain a grain of truth. But it's also cruel and fatalistic.”

“BP has made mistakes, but its endless battering from U.S. authorities is out of all proportion.”

“Obama seems to be rethinking his stance on U.S. interference in other lands. Will he let the voters know before the election?”

“Compared to Romney and despite his flaws, Mr. Obama embodies an intelligent and engaged America. Unlike four years ago, he is no longer supported by global hopes for his victory, but concerns in the event of his defeat.”

“At least 2 U.S. Marines were killed in the strikeon the base in Helmand Province, which houses American and British troops, among others.”

“Romney’s rhetoric is not the result of a long-held position, but a set of stereotypes not backed by his personal beliefs or attitudes. What course he would pursue if elected is therefore impossible to guess.”

“In the hottest phase of a U.S. campaign, the logic of action in Washington often shifts to winning short-term points. But ats stake is more than an Obama second term: If and how Obama succeeds could decide whether there is war or peace.”

“People from the security forces definitely let the attack happen because they were themselves offended by the film; they would absolutely put their loyalty to the Prophet over the consulate. The deaths are all nothing compared to insulting the Prophet.”

“Once again the Nov. 6 election dealt a
blow to the widely peddled myth that
this is an electoral group with simplistic
political behavior: that American Jews
would back the candidate most swayed
by Israeli politics. It has again been shown
- nothing could be further from the truth.

“It is rather embarrassing, as well
as sad, that the leader of the free
world can’t even pronounce the
name of the most famous human
rights activist on earth. Or that he
is so quick to appease the Burma
regime by calling it 'Myanmar.'”

“Is there nothing to
stop this nonsense,
this garbage war?
Hundreds of rockets
fall on Israel. True.
Thousands of acres
of land are stolen
from Arabs – for
Jews and Jews only.
There isn't enough
land left there now
for a Palestinian state.”

“The reelection of U.S. President Barack
Obama will allow many in Moscow to take
a sigh of relief: the Cold War is canceled.
This is, in fact, what the 2012 American
presidential campaign means for Moscow.”

“The world is still waiting for Nobel
Peace laureate Barack Obama to earn
his prize. But the American people
made a good choice. ... Thank you.”

“There are armchairs in which
it is not good to sit for too long.
'We new men are no better
than those who came before us,'
confessed Emperor Hadrian.
'Power only serves to soil us.'

“A first indicator of things to come
can already be seen: even in the age
of social media, election campaigns
continue to pour most of their cash
into television - and it seems they
are becoming increasingly nasty”

“Romney's declarations gave us more
hope - but he lost. Unfortunately, Mr.
Obama has a long track record of
failing to satisfy the desires of Poles.”

“Critics are suggest Romney's
campaign foundered at the
hands of amateurs. Moreover,
it will take some time to
digest the depths of the
catastrophe that befell them.”

“Never can the toolkit
of political debate have
been so empty and the
task of understanding
the world so titanic.”

“In purely pragmatic and political
terms, as seen from the White
House, why would the old/new
president cultivate special ties
with the old/sick continent? ...
Consequently, in his second term,
his views on Europe will be even
more skeptical and detached.”

“Americans preferred to maintain
the same imperfect balance and
uncertain plans of the incumbent
over the economic voodoo of his
riskier Republican opponent. And
rightly so.”

“The sale and speed of the
rout has surprised traders.
The looming U.S. fiscal cliff,
the crisis in Europe, and
the weak state of the global
economy are being blamed.”

“Tea Party zealots, homophobes
and misogynists hijacked Romney's
campaign – and threaten the
Republican party's future.”

“The euphoria of 2008
has gone, but the U.S.
president's second win
is remarkable precisely
because it isn't as symbolic.”

“It is appalling to see the world
in suspended animation, just
because the two most powerful
nations are busy with themselves.”

“The threat of criminal sanctions
against OSCE/ODIHR observers is
unacceptable. The United States,
like all countries in the OSCE, has
an obligation to invite ODIHR
observers to observe its elections.”

“French fans had little love for the
American - to put it mildly. They
accused him of wicked deeds of
doping. It turns out they were right.”

“And where was Europe in all
this? Not far from Australia in
the battle for the position of
most forgotten continent. ...”

“The president
did better than
an unconvincing
Romney – but it's
hard to imagine
this changed minds
or won hearts.”

“It's finished. Obama came
off as more confident and
coherent on foreign policy
... but Romney survived
fairly unscathed. Obama
less aggressive than the
second debate. Romney
less aggressive than the
first. In all, a little dull.”

“It is difficult to
disagree about the
imperial power of
America and the
'civilized' values
we chaps are still
trying to teach
those chaps in
the Arab world.”

“The leader of a democratic
country cannot, like Stalin,
stigmatize Hitler today, and
then sign a pact with him to
divide Europe tomorrow. ...
in terms of lies and violence,
totalitarianism is more
effective than democracy.”

“The black and white Cold
War mentality looks all the
more absurd in the context
of the tectonic shifts taking
place before our eyes ...
Mitt Romney, who readily
repeats his idea that Russia
is America's leading foe, is
the only such politician-
reanimator of that ilk today.”

“Castro wrote a sharp letter
of protest about Moscow's
giving in [to Kennedy]. The
Cuban revolutionary also
refused to return his heavy
Soviet arms, blaming Stalin's
envoy for betraying Cuba.”

"The idea was to find someone
[a wife] with the same mentality
as him, so that both would be
killed in a U.S. drone attack.”

“With 52 deaths so far, it has
been the bloodiest deployment
of German troops since the end
of World War II. But it is over.
... skepticism is growing about
what progress will remain
once foreign troops have left.”

“The U.S., Google and Facebook
have begun a lobbying offensive
against an E.U. data privacy law
that would strengthen user rights
to have personal data deleted.”

“With this sordid backdrop, there is
a consolation. ... In Italy, the fight
against doping makes no concessions:
if Armstrong had lived in Italy, he
may have been caught more quickly
than he was in the United States.”

“Romney has been rather
pugnacious at points. Here
he gestures towards the
president when talking
about the tragic events in
Benghazi, Libya. But the
strong posturing backfired.”

“Time and again,
he interrupted
both Romney and
the moderator.
He may not have
sniggered and
laughed out loud
but there was
an air of the Joe
Biden playbook.”

“Romney puts
up fight against
more decisive
opponent but
can't overcome
the president's
sharp delivery.”

“The shock decision will be
hailed as a big milestone for
those who have campaigned
against the perceived one-
sided nature of Britian's
extradition pact with the U.S.”

“Few will have thought,
or even heard of, Mansa
Musa I of Mali, an obscure
14th century African king
who was today named the
richest person in history.”

“Mothers of victims of the Srebrenica
massacre watching from the public
gallery snorted in derision and shock,
shouting out 'He's lying! He's lying!'”

“Americans or Israelis
will bomb Iran's nuclear
facilities, but this won't
finish it. Iran would
inevitably fire rockets
at Israel and ask its
friends from Lebanese
Hezbullah to do the
same. What comes
next is anyone's guess.”

“If there were no Joe Biden,
we journalists would have to
invent one. His verbal slipups
can't be beat. ... But at the
debate, Biden put up exactly
the kind of spirited fight that
the Obama campaign needs.”

“A boisterous Joe
Biden led a riproaring
counterattack on
Republicans, using his
debate with Paul Ryan
to repeatedly criticize
- and openly laugh at –
his opponents' policies.”

“Gifwise, it's definitely
been Biden's night.”

“What so puzzles me is
the sight of Islamists
invading embassies and
killing people, all in the
name of their religion,
without a word from
advocates of freedom.”

“He kept his eyes down and
flashed smiles too wide to
have been sincere. Then he
embarked on complicated
explanations to justify his
actions in the White House,
which made him look like a
president should never look:
as if he were a 'non leader.'”

“If Romney is made president,
the phrase 'I don't want to go
down the path to Spain,' which
he delivered at the worst time
in Spain's recent history, will
haunt him whenever he must
have contact with our country.”

“This is a country is too big not
to be better understood by some.
But don’t you worry, we will try
to explain it to them. I think we
have very little to envy when it
comes to other peoples, and that
includes the Americans. ... And
by the way, we are also very
proud of our welfare state.”

“The do-nothing hand-wringing
favored by Turkey's allies may
not be politically sustainable
as the Syrian crisis spreads.”

“Romney could have used
other examples, but he
didn't; he gave the example
of Spain, and everyone
seemed to understand the
the subliminal message.”

“No longer can he be dismissed
with a gag about a dog strapped
to his car roof. This uptight rich
guy could be the next president.”

“Unable up to now to look
at Obama as critically as they
evaluate Romney, journalists
will now have to take account
of the a good performance
a man they will not vote for.”

“Imagine an America in which
anyone can download and print
a gun in their own home. They
wouldn't need a background
check, a license, or very much
technical knowledge, just a 3D
printer. That's the vision a
cadre of dedicated libertarians
are determined to make reality.”

“ After a number of
reboots and roll-outs
he finally found his
voice. He wasn't
likeable, but he was
believable. Fluent,
strident, confident
– he made his case.”

“So far from Mitt Romney
there's been more waffle
than zinger. But when you
have a 'no details tax plan'
that's what happens I guess.”

“The importance of America has
declined; a giant with feet of clay
and a $16 trillion debt - a bankrupt
country that has its hands too full
with its own problems to remain
involved with the world. ... Why
should I care under which
president the Americans live?”

“The largest,
the longest, the
costliest and the
cruelest exercise
in democracy on
earth approaches
its climax.”

“The giant of search
engines has seen off
its commercial rivals.
Now it's locked in a
series of increasingly
fierce fights with
many governments.”

“Even if it sounds
like blasphemy: she
is no saint. The
reverence that Suu
Kyi is regarded with
hides her weakness.
It hampers an analysis
of political mistakes
and shortcomings.”

“Some local people seem a tad
ungrateful. They have labeled Mr.
Panetta, a former CIA chief, the
'warlord of the world' and say he
should be arrested and sent for
trial in The Hague. They pay no
heed to Washington's 'anti-China'
Asia-Pacific security agenda.”

“This glitch of a command
sent to the wrong capsule
address is just the latest
chapter in a book full of
misadventures in space.”

“We would rather side with
the white knights who have
the courage to stand up to
dangerous extremists capable
of setting their offices ablaze.”

“If I move to Ireland and
buy a house, I can run for
president of Ireland thanks
to my Irish heritage. ... ”

“There is one question
one must ask in light of
Romney, and some of
the other clowns who
vied for the Republican
nomination: What's going
on with Republicans?
Isn't the party more out
of touch with reality
than the Democrats they
denounce as elitist?”

“The next few months threaten
to be dangerous. Several severe
regional economic and political
crises could combine into a mega-
crisis, which will in turn create
very serious global shockwaves.”

“Is Islam so vulnerable, so
fragile, so threatened
wherever it is practiced?
Can a work of fiction, a
cartoon or a very bad film
damage Muslim values and
thought? In principle, no.”

“That a politician has voluntarily
branded himself a cold-hearted
capitalist is astonishing. ... We
Germans have a very hard time
understanding why Americans
still want to vote for Romney.”

"I will pay whoever kills the
makers of this video $100,000.
If someone else makes other
similar blasphemous material
in the future, I will also pay
those who kill him $100,000."

“The concern of the United
States is understandable.
Their troops on the ground
are confronted with this
violence. But it is extremely
clumsy to respond to it
with a call for censorship.”

“The order anticipates violent protest
over the publishing of cartoons of The
Prophet Muhammad by satirical weekly
Charlie Hebdo. The obscene cartoons
have renewed anger among Muslims
after more than a week of deadly
protest sparked by a U.S.-made video.”

“At the convention, she
left the stage to a standing
ovation, with her head
bowed, not overdoing
it - aware, perhaps, that
the true revolution can be
found in her, a girl from
the Black ghetto standing
at the center of
White power, and that
the game is not yet over.”

“If as president, Romney
acts on even of a sliver
of his declarations, we
would stand to benefit.
And if he ends up being
overwhelmed by reality
and was unable to do so,
we would lose nothing.
With Obama, we know
exactly where we stand.”

“The old fear that democracy
will allow the poor to fleece
property owners has never
disappeared. Of course,
there is a grain of truth in it.”

“Putin finally realizes that
the American political class
will offer us no one better
than liberal Barack Obama.”

“The Senkaku dispute is
the latest episode in a
long history of conflict –
and the Americans are
increasingly nervous.”

“The U.S. has suspended
joint operations because
of a collapse in trust after
a surge in the number of
Americans and other NATO
soldiers killed by men they
are fighting with or training.”

“The conflict over the film
Innocence of Muslims raises
questions about how far the
West is prepared to go
in defending free expression.”

“Romney's comment might
contain a grain of truth. But
it's also cruel and fatalistic.”

“BP has made
mistakes, but
its endless
battering from
U.S. authorities
is out of
all proportion.”

“Obama seems to
be rethinking his
stance on U.S.
interference in
other lands. Will
he let the voters
know before
the election?”

“Compared to Romney and
despite his flaws, Mr. Obama
embodies an intelligent and
engaged America. Unlike four
years ago, he is no longer
supported by global hopes
for his victory, but concerns
in the event of his defeat.”

“At least 2 U.S. Marines
were killed in the strike
on the base in Helmand
Province, which houses
American and British
troops, among others.”

“Romney’s rhetoric is not the
result of a long-held position,
but a set of stereotypes not
backed by his personal beliefs
or attitudes. What course he
would pursue if elected is
therefore impossible to guess.”

“In the hottest phase of a
U.S. campaign, the logic
of action in Washington
often shifts to winning
short-term points. But ats
stake is more than an
Obama second term: If
and how Obama succeeds
could decide whether
there is war or peace.”

“People from the security
forces definitely let the
attack happen because
they were themselves
offended by the film; they
would absolutely put their
loyalty to the Prophet over
the consulate. The deaths
are all nothing compared
to insulting the Prophet.”