What the world is reading

In this opinion piece,Annie Lowrey sums up the confusion over the new appointments made in the European Union. That two relative unknowns have been chosen to represent the bloc has made news and Lowrey maintains that “it is difficult to argue that either Van Rompuy or Ashton were truly the most qualified or best-prepared candidates for their respective jobs. By choosing such low-profile figures,Europe is essentially defining their responsibilities and expectations down.” However,she does argue that given the bilateral relationships between EU member states and the rest of the world,a high profile appointment may have led big powers to “cede to Europe” when they otherwise would not have.

VANITY FAIR BLOG

Will Oprah be like Howard Stern or the Yankees?

In what has been one of the bigger news stories of the week—that Oprah Winfrey will start her own television channel—Matt Pressman has compared Winfrey and another talk show host,Howard Stern. The question asked is whether Oprah will,in fact,be able to carry forth the success that has followed her so far? He says,“It would be madness to bet against Oprah,who has gone from one triumph to the next in her career. Whereas Stern’s fans had to buy an expensive new service in order to follow him to satellite radio,Oprah’s will merely have to change the channel.”

SALON.COM

The Real Price of Trying KSM

David Feige’s opinion piece is a must read. It provides an overview of the challenges of trying Khalid Sheikh Mohammed,the man who has claimed to be the mastermind of 9/11. In what is dubbed to be the “case of a lifetime”,the piece touches upon the weapons the defence has in KSM’s case: namely that he confessed whilst being tortured. Feige sums up the irregularities the case will face: “In an idealized view,our judicial system is insulated from the ribald passions of politics. In reality,those passions suffuse the criminal justice system,and no matter how compelling the case for suppressing evidence that would actually effect the trial might be,given the politics at play,there is no judge in the country who will seriously endanger the prosecution.”

COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

Interview: Karzai’s Moment of Opportunity

With years of experience and a keen insight into Afghanistan both from an Asia and Washington perspective,Consulting Editor of CFR interviews Zalmay Khalilzad,the former US Ambassador to Afghanistan. The interview touches upon the question of whether Abdullah Abdullah and Hamid Karzai have the potential of forming a government. Further,it offers insight into Obama’s planned increase in troops and where the policy will be headed. Khalilzad also sounds a clear warning to the President of Afghanistan: “There will have to be changes. This is the last chance for President Karzai. This is his final term. There will be a need to appeal to his sense of his place in Afghanistan’s history.”

Wonkette Blog

Wonkette,the blog on DC gossip,follows Sarah Palin along with the hysteria that has followed the release of her new book,Going Rogue. A post from the blog reads,“As usual,wingnuts waited in line,in the freezing cold,for several million hours at Sarah Palin’s most recent book-signing event in Noblesville,Indiana. Palin showed up,signed books for half an hour,and was quickly whisked back—along with special guest Mr. Trig!—to her monster Going Rogue bus,leaving 300 unsigned books. Suddenly the wingnuts decided she is a “quitter” after all! Ha ha ha look at them booing a bus.”