Monday's global agenda: The fallout from the Middle East protests

Your morning global affairs speed-read

While the fierce anti-American protests that have rocked the Middle East since Tuesday are waning, the politics that fueled them all but ensure that the region will remain a tinderbox for the foreseeable future, writes The Wall Street Journal.

Auto wars: As both presidential candidates seek to look tough on China, President Obama will announce during a campaign tour of Ohio on Monday that he is initiating a case against the country at the World Trade Organization over allegedly illegal subsidies for automobiles and auto parts, Reuters reports.

Missile defense: The United States and Japan announced Monday an agreement to deploy a second missile-defense radar on Japanese territory, angering China. [The New York Times]

The decision comes as Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta arrived in Tokyo for a week-long trip aimed at cooling simmering tensions between the two nations. [The Washington Post]

In other news: 

The past week's unrest in the Middle East is affecting debate about whether to intervene in Syria. [The New York Times]

While all eyes were on the Middle East, the State Department also warned U.S. citizens about unauthorized travel to North Korea this past week. [UPI]

Four Americans were killed in Afghanistan in the latest bout of “green on blue” violence. [The Washington Post]

What you might have missed on Global Affairs:

Rice contradicts Libyan account, says consulate attack was not premeditated

US closes embassy amid reports Sudan rejected request to send Marines

Rice: ‘No daylight’ between US, Israel on approach to Iran

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