Roguely Stated

A roundup of the day’s national and international security news: more maneuvering in the Middle East; Brig.-Gen. says Iraqi security forces will need several years to be self-sufficient; Iraqi and Iranian leaders and senior officials to meet; Iran and North Korea take small steps forward on nuclear nonproliferation.

[NYT, Khaleej Times, J-Post]Middle East leaders meet to bolster Abbas, and Israel considers allowing Fatah troop movements to strengthen Abbas’ hand against Hamas. J-Post reports Hamas distances itself from Al-Qaida in statement.

[J-Post] Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Olmert’s decision to release Palestinian prisoners to support Abbas.

[NYT, WaPo, Khaleej Times]
North Korea gets frozen funds, promises to shut down main nuclear reactor, and anticipates arrival of IAEA inspectors for negotiations. South Korea promises to restart rice aid nearly a year after it was halted because of tensions over nuclear development.

[NYT] Iran invites IAEA inspectors for talks.

[Khaleej Times] Iraqi and Iranian leaders, senior officials to meet.

[WaPo 1, WaPo 2] Brig. Gen. Dana J.H. Pittard – in charge of the Iraq Assistance Group that advises Iraq’s military forces – predicts “it’ll take years” before Iraqis self-sufficient in providing their own security. Sen. Lugar (R-IN) criticizes Bush’s Iraq plan and calls for scale-down of troops.