The Morning Brief - Lignet


North Korea: New Nuke Test Downplayed; Missile Test Likely
Press reports this morning that North Korea may conduct a nuclear test apparently were a false alarm. However, Pyongyang has raised tensions further by pulling its workers from a factory complex jointly operated with South Korea and appears intent on conducting at least one ballistic missile test this week.
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Hayden: Arm Some Syrian Rebels, Create No-Fly Zone Near Turkey
In this exclusive interview, former CIA Director Michael Hayden gives his candid views on the continuing crisis in Syria. Hayden explains that although he has been reluctant to support any U.S. involvement in Syria, the current situation and the likelihood of a sectarian civil war after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad falls are so serious that he now supports limited American involvement, which he spells out.
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Record Unemployment Rate Crushes Hopes of Euro Recovery
While some observers have taken improving stock and bond markets to mean that the eurozone debt crisis may be easing, new record unemployment rates show that the continent’s economic outlook remains bleak. Joblessness rose to a new all-time high in February as tens of thousands of Europeans joined the ranks of the unemployed.
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Seven Early Warning Signs of Global Inflation
Global inflation may be closer than many policymakers and economists think, but how will we know it has begun? In this special analysis, LIGNET Economic Adviser Dr. Peter Warburton discusses the potential for global inflation and its early warning signs.
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Hayden Doubts Use of Force Against Iran Can be Avoided
Former CIA Director Michael Hayden told LIGNET this week that it may be too late for diplomacy to stop Iran from building nuclear weapons. "I am doubtful, and pessimistic, that we’re going to be able to solve this without someone taking some sort of kinetic action against the Iranians," he said.
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North Korea: Despite Escalation, U.S. Continues to Seek Face Saving Way to De-Escalate Tensions on the Peninsula
Despite Chinese troops gathering at the border with North Korea, and Pyongyang signaling an imminent medium-range test missile launch, the U.S. has intensified its effort to downplay the prospects for conflict on the peninsula. After the U.S. admission of faults, though, it is likely North Korea will use this as a bargaining chip to try and negotiate even larger assistance packages from the international community.
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Levitt: Cyprus Case ‘Outs’ Hezbollah, Pressures EU
Middle East expert Matthew Levitt told LIGNET in an exclusive interview that the recent conviction of a Hezbollah member in Cyprus on terrorism charges is extremely important, because the trial “outed and exposed” Hezbollah. Levitt explained that because the trial was public and included details on Hezbollah’s activities throughout Europe, it will pressure Europe to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. That designation would allow European countries to proactively monitor Hezbollah, rather than waiting to respond to a Hezbollah attack, which would be “a minute too late,” said Levitt.
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