The United States has angered Damascus by mounting a sortie across the Iraqi-Syrian border, killing at least half a dozen Syrians in the process. The leader of Israel’s ruling party dropped efforts to form a government and called for an early general election. Iraq’s foreign minister canceled a booked visit to Australia, citing a crisis in the talks over US troops, and Pakistan surprised those who’d suggested it was soft on the Taliban by recapturing a key strategic town. This series of events have confused diplomats and policymakers.
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