The World

Here’s what we’ve been chatting about today:

• Damning prison footage videos have shaken Georgia’s political landscape ahead of elections on October 1.
• A year and a half before the 2007 surge into Iraq, a secret review group in Baghdad had recommended a drastic change in US strategy. In an extract from his book, “The Endgame”, Michael R. Gordon, considers whether the war might have turned out differently if that advice had been heeded.
• China has traditionally been vigorous in upholding the principle of state sovereignty against outside interference, but it has recently shown signs of accepting international intervention. In light of this, Michael Swaine at the Carnegie Endowment has examined China’s stance on Syria.
• Three weeks after Syrian rebels entered Aleppo, ammunition supplies had dwindled, resulting in a stalemate with Assad’s forces — read Ghaith Abdul-Ahad’s on-the-ground report in the Guardian.
• David Cameron is venturing into the world of American television today by going on the David Letterman show. Clive Anderson wonders whether it is wise of him to spar with the king of the chat show.
• Finally, it seems that Monsanto man Mitt Romney might secretly eat organic.