Saturday, September 23 06

Reports surfacing on how Moscow is using CIS referenda as foreign policy instrument. Israeli withdrawal and Lebanese militarization of southern Lebanon proceeding largely in compliance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701. Signs that trouble is brewing in Kosovo after violent incidents and Friday's closed Security Council talks. In Canadian consensus-building tour, the 'major of Kabul' throws blame for recent Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan's south toward regional rival Pakistan. New book by Paul Kennedy explains how the U.N. is the world's body politic, but constantly handcuffed by static 1945 constitution and the politicization of U.N. Security Council election process. Canadian Prime Minister Harper puts forward a position of strength during initial U.N. appearance.