NSN Daily Update 3/16/09 Posted by The National Security Network

See today's complete daily update here.

What We’re Reading

Protests in Pakistan led by opposition leader Nawaz Sharif forced President Asif Ali Zardari to back down and reinstate an independent-minded Supreme Court judge.

Iran’s former president, Mohammad Khatami, will reportedly withdraw from the presidential race and endorse another reformist candidate, former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi.

The health care “value gap” hurts the United States in global economic competition.

Binyamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has signed a coalition agreement with Avigdor Lieberman’s far-right Yisrael Beitenu party. 

Commentary of the Day

Fareed Zakaria pushes against back criticism of the Obama administration’s foreign policy, arguing that an “imperial” foreign policy can no longer work.

Roger Cohen looks at pragmatism in Iran and how the U.S. can use that to end their nuclear program.

Iranian-American activists – and newlyweds -- Mariam Memarsadeghi and Akbar Atri say human rights in Iran must come first in U.S. Iran policy.

Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai hopes President Obama will inspire a new generation of African leaders.