[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/09/art.amanpour.writer.jpg caption="Sr. Writer Tom Evans"]
On AMANPOUR. today, we will focus on J Street, a new Jewish American lobbying group, that is for the first time openly challenging the legendarily all-powerful AIPAC – and seeking to change the way Washington deals with Israel. Will this group fundamentally shift the dialogue about U.S. policy in the Middle East? Or will it drift to the margins and become irrelevant? That’s not the only topic we are looking at today. Here are some perspectives on some other news in the headlines.
Tom Evans
Sr. Writer, AMANPOUR.
AFGHANISTAN – Has U.S. President Obama settled on a new strategy for Afghanistan?
– Sources tell CNN President Obama will announce new strategy and troop levels after Thanksgiving Holiday in the U.S., which is next Thursday
– Announcement will follow yesterday’s inauguration of President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan in Kabul for a second five year term
– Karzai saying he wants Afghan security forces to take the lead in security within five years
– Violence continues, with a suicide bombing in far west of Afghanistan killing at least 13 and wounding many others, including children
QUESTION: Will President Obama announce an exit strategy from Afghanistan at the same time as he makes announcement on troop levels?
EUROPE – is the economic giant called the European Union the new diplomatic pygmy in the world?
– Much criticism of 27 European leaders who chose a haiku loving Belgian prime minister to be their next president and a former U.K health authority chairwoman to be “foreign minister” who’s never held elected office
– Choices reflect desire of big countries, particularly France and Germany, to continue controlling European policy and not cede any significant authority to Brussels
– New “foreign minister” was so unprepared for announcement that she did not have a speech ready for news conference. Today she said she wants to prove she’s up to the job
– Critics say the appointees are lightweights who have no political clout at all and will never match U.S. and Chinese officials on the world stage
QUESTION: Who should a world leader, say from the U.S. or China, telephone in Europe in the event of a major international dispute? (Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger once famously asked who he should call in Europe!)
FOOTBALL FIGHT – will the outrage over France’s cheating in the soccer World Cup subside or escalate?
– Ireland up in arms after Thierry Henry handball, missed by referee, in World Cup qualifier gives France victory over Irish
– FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, refuses Irish demands for a replay. But Henry himself this morning is quoted as saying a replay would be “fairest solution”
– Irish prime minister speaks to French president Sarkozy about the cheating, but French prime minister tells Ireland to back off
– Showdown a reminder of “soccer war” between Honduras and El Salvador in 1969 that lasted 100 hours and was sparked by a dispute over a qualifying game for the 1970 World Cup
QUESTION: Where will this showdown between Ireland and France end, and if it’s not resolved, will it poison relations between Dublin and Paris for years to come?