The Rundown - February 18

News & views on RFE/RL's broadcast region

Afghanistan/Pakistan
#
Another high-ranking Taliban official has been captured in Pakistan
# "The New York Times" ed board weighs in on arrests and the offensive
# Lara Dadkhah thinks the U.S. has relinquished its aerial superiority
# The "Wall Street Journal" editorializes on the Baradar arrest
# Annie Lowrey bemoans America's ranking system for the Taliban
# John Nagl & Mitchell Reiss on how Iraq informs Afghanistan militarily
# Ayaz Wazir discussions negotiating with the Afghan Taliban
# Patrick Hennessey on the media war over Marjah

Iran
#
"The New York Times" reports on a new law curbing women's rights in Iran
# Robert Baer agrees that Iran is a military dictatorship
# Flynt Leverett & Barbara Slavin discuss Iran (video)
# "Der Spiegel interviews Karim Sadjadpour
# Meir Javendafar supports sanctioning Iran's leadership
# Nassrine Azimi on how Japan can help on Iran
# "The National" reports on Turkey's role with Iran

Iraq
#
Omar Fadil Al-Nidawi & Austin bay on Joe Biden's Iraq position(s)
# The "LA Times" editorializes on sectarianism in Iraq

Russia
#
Marcus Grant praises Medvedev's focusing on drinking in Russia
# A U.S. "innovation team" is meeting with its Russian counterparts

U.S. Politics/Foreign Policy
#
The U.S. is pushing for Pakistan-India talks
# Robert Mnookin on engaging despotic leaders
# Marc Thiessen thinks the U.S. is outsourcing the war on terror

Of Interest
#
Chris Phillips on the international clout of Bashar Al-Assad
# Andrew Tabler discusses engaging Syria to thwart Iran