(CNSNews.com) - The continuing carnage in Sudan's Darfur region is dragging on because of China's support for the Islamist government in Khartoum, according to Irish celebrity campaigner for Africa, Bob Geldof. "The reason why it has not been resolved is because of China," the Associated Press quoted Geldof as saying in Athens on Monday. "The Chinese protect the Khartoum government, who are killers, and they will not allow a vote in the [U.N.] Security Council," he said, attributing Beijing's stance to its oil ties with Sudan. The characteristically candid Geldof, organizer of last year's Live 8 global charity event, was in the Greek capital to receive a humanitarian award.
Beijing's state-controlled China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) owns 40 percent of Sudan's biggest oil operation. An estimated 6 to 7 percent of China's oil imports come from Sudan, a figure expected to rise as the industry expands after a two-decades-long civil war. U.S. Department of Energy figures now place Sudan third in sub-Saharan Africa for crude oil production, behind Nigeria and Angola. Since a conflict broke out in Darfur between government-sponsored militias and rebel groups three years ago, many thousands of people have perished and two million more have been displaced. The U.N. has described Darfur as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
As early as July 2004, veto-wielding member China was using its clout in the Security Council to ease international pressure on Khartoum. Resistance from China -- together with fellow permanent council member Russia and several of the body's non-permanent members, notably Islamic Pakistan and Algeria -- resulted in the U.S. agreeing to drop the word "sanctions" from a draft resolution on Darfur. In the end, the watered-down resolution was passed by a 13-0 vote. Although the sanctions reference had been removed, Beijing could still not support it because, China's envoy Zhang Yishan said, "it still included references to measures that were not helpful and which could further complicate the situation." China abstained, along with Pakistan. In the 21 months since then, the death toll in Darfur has risen from some 30,000-50,000 to an estimated 180,000 today.
By February last year, the U.S. and European allies were still struggling to get China and Russia to agree to impose sanctions against Sudan. The State Department said at the time that those under discussion included oil sanctions, as well as an extension of an existing arms embargo, a freeze on assets and travel ban against specified individuals or government officials.
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Virginia), a co-chairman of the bipartisan congressional human rights caucus, said at a press conference on Darfur that month that China and Russia had "repeatedly threatened to veto resolutions that could possibly bring an end to the violence." Wolf, who has visited Sudan five times, is currently pressing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to appoint a special envoy to the country, to focus further attention on the Darfur issue.
Testifying before the congressional U.S.-China Commission last July, Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow for Africa policy studies Princeton Lyman also linked China's Security Council stance to its oil dealings with Sudan. "China had become its biggest [oil] customer," he said. "Meanwhile, China has successfully prevented the U.N. Security Council from serious sanctions or other preventive measures in face of the alleged genocide and crimes against humanity perpetrated in the Darfur region of that country."
Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said in a major policy speech on China last September that it was time to urge a rising China to become "a responsible stakeholder" in the international system, for instance by using its considerable influence with such regimes as those ruling Sudan and Iran. "China should take more than oil from Sudan - it should take some responsibility for resolving Sudan's human crisis," said Zoellick, who has himself traveled to the north-east African country four times over the past year.
Meanwhile, Beijing's relations with Khartoum appear to be strengthening. Chinese defense minister Cao Gangchuan held talks with his Sudanese counterpart, Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein, in Beijing two weeks ago, and said the People's Liberation Army was "ready to deepen the cooperation" with the Sudanese military. Hussein, who was described as being on "an official goodwill visit," praised China's stance on the Darfur issue, the official Xinhua news agency reported. At another meeting, a senior Chinese official thanked the Sudanese visitor for Khartoum's "firm support on major international issues, such as human rights."
Additional: Beijing - Irish rocker Bob Geldof's accusation that Beijing is to blame for the continuing civil war in Sudan would have more bite if China knew who he was. On Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao said he'd never heard of anti-poverty campaigner and Live 8 organiser Geldof. Asking "Who?" several times, Liu finally shook his head and said "I am sorry" after a reporter asked for comment on the 51-year-old Irish rocker's claims that China was protecting the Sudanese government because it provides six percent of China's oil.
"Anyway, I can brief you on China's position on Sudan," Liu said. "We are making efforts to restore peace in Sudan. We hope both parties can implement the agreements reached. We hope to see a stronger role for the African Union in solving the Sudan problem." Liu didn't respond directly to the claim that China is protecting the Khartoum government because of its oil needs.
Geldof has won international acclaim for his humanitarian efforts and last year organised the Live 8 benefit concerts. "I was in Darfur 20 years ago and people were killing each other then. It's an ancient battle between nomadic people and settled people, between Arab-Africans and black Africans, between Islam and Christians. ... The reason why it has not been resolved is because of China," Geldof said in Athens on Monday. "The Chinese protect the Khartoum government ... and they will not allow a vote in the Security Council," he said.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/11/2006 09:57 ||
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Geldof speaks the obvious to the oblivious
Posted by: Captain America ||
04/11/2006 17:04 Comments ||
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I still think he's done good and for the right reasons....ineffectual, maybe, but he's tried. You don't hear Blair talking about China's participation in the genocide or that asswipe Jack Straw (too busy assisting his Mullah masters)
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/11/2006 17:18 Comments ||
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In two minds about Bob, as I have recently been slagging off musos/actors with alleged political stances, not here, though. Never liked his music(?) anyway, but I would point out to him, if I ever met him, that he is about 30 years too late to save Africa. Waste of time.
But, maybe, there are enough boomtown rats out there listening to him these days to make a difference, dont think so. Maybe he's rubbing shoulders with our Chancellor, Gordon Brown, and is gonna promise to educate Africa whilst England hits reverse gear. Maybe he's a Rolling Stone fan too, accepting the fact Mick and Keith aren't allowed to play four of their songs in China, (but it doesnt matter, they have a catalogue of 400 songs, so they will play in China anyway, despite censorship, well, theyre off my Christmas cards list).
Hopefully, when assessing the above, if it ever happens, Sir Bob will be the one to have seen the light and will swing a few half-cooked minds in the right direction.
Regards to all, Ship, up for a drink, N London, Thursday?
Following are excerpts from an interview with Saudi author Dr. Muhammad Al-'Arifi, which aired on Al-Risala TV on April 6, 2006.
Dr. Muhammad Al-'Arifi: One of the most important things that distinguish Man from beast is the ability to control one's desires. Allah said about some of the infidels: "They are like cattle; nay, they stray farther off the path." If you look at them, you will see that when they want to go to sleep - they go to sleep, with complete disregard for the times of the five prayers. If he feels like committing adultery - he does. If he feels like having any type of sexual relations - he does, regardless of whether it is permitted or prohibited. Of course, you never hear of a pack of moslems gang-raping a girl.
Therefore, as I said on previous shows, they have organizations for homosexuals, organizations for people who marry animals - she marries a dog, a donkey, and so on... The organizations exist, and strangely enough, they are official. They have websites, and they publish magazines with pictures. But goats are fine.
According to statistics from Denmark, 54% of the births in Denmark are illegitimate. In this case, the term "illegitimate" does not mean a girl getting pregnant by her boyfriend. It refers to a woman, who gives birth in a hospital, and when the doctor asks her under whose name to register the baby - who's the father - she says: "I don't know. It might be the doorman... No, no, it might be the company director... It might be the clerk, or the taxi driver... I don't know." They end up registering the child in her own name. That's an "illegitimate" birth. But when she says that the child is from her boyfriend, that's fine...
#1
IOW, whether Secular Commie or Leftist-Socialist, Radical Muslim >? God-based Leftists, homosexuals and other alternatists, etal. need to be, shall be, and will be, suppressed or gulagged, espec once Great Satan, Fascist = HalfCommie Amerika is finally suborned under OWG and Socialist World Order.
#3
organizations for people who marry animals - she marries a dog, a donkey, and so on... The organizations exist, and strangely enough, they are official.
Oh yeah like the federal monkey Lovers Association.
The American organization of Donkey F$$kers.
The official Northeast corridor federal dog licking society.
And of course NAMBLA. The OFFICIAL North American
Mohammedan-Boy Love Assn.
One of the key organizers of the immigration protests and rallies nationwide, including yesterday's in Washington, is a group whose leaders are tied to the Workers World Party, a Marxist organization that has expressed support for dictators Kim Jong-il of North Korea and Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) Coalition, which also has proposed a nationwide boycott on May 1 to protest congressional efforts at immigration reform and border security, is an offshoot of the International Action Coalition, an anti-capitalism group founded by former Attorney General Ramsey Clark.
In a press release celebrating a March 25 rally in Los Angeles against immigration-law enforcement that drew an estimated 500,000 people, ANSWER said it helped organize "a major contingent in the march" and provided logistical support. The march was co-chaired by Juan Jose Gutierrez, director of Latino Movement USA, who also is a member of ANSWER's Los Angeles steering committee.
"We are people of dignity, and we demand respect," Mr. Gutierrez said at the rally. "This is the beginning of a movement that is going to call for a national work stoppage." Another ANSWER member who spoke at the rally, Gloria La Riva said: "The racist politicians thought they could step on us with their racist legislation, but they have awakened the immigrant giant, and they will feel our strength when we stop work."
Founded three days after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the organization describes itself as a "coalition of hundreds of organizations and prominent individuals and scores of organizing centers in cities and towns across the country" that have campaigned against "U.S. intervention in Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia ... and for civil rights and for social and economic justice for working and poor people inside the United States." ANSWER also organized the first national anti-war rally after the September 11 attacks, a demonstration that brought 25,000 people to Washington and 15,000 to San Francisco on Sept. 29, 2001.
Only 18 days later, before the crater stopped smoking
The Workers World Party, a communist organization in the United States founded in 1959, describes itself as a party that has, since its founding, "supported the struggles of all oppressed peoples" and opposes "all forms of racism and religious bigotry." In addition to sponsoring or directing numerous popular-front groups, it was instrumental in founding ANSWER through the International Action Coalition. It's March 25 rally in Los Angeles and its planned "Great American Boycott of 2006" on May 1 are part of a series of large-scale events that the coalition hopes will sway lawmakers to put millions of illegal aliens in the United States on track toward permanent residency and U.S. citizenship.
ANSWER has denounced attempts by Congress to secure the United States' borders and criminalize illegal aliens as "racist," saying all working people should back full amnesty for all of the estimated 10 million to 12 million illegal aliens now in the United States. It has accused the media, government and corporations of "erecting borders against humans and waging war on immigrant America." Calling its proposed boycott a "day without an immigrant," the coalition has labeled members of Congress -- both Republicans and Democrats -- as "hatemongers," saying it will "settle for nothing less than full amnesty and dignity for the millions of undocumented workers presently in the United States."
The street rallies and the proposed boycott are seen as critical in keeping what ANSWER has described as "pressure" on Congress so it will not be allowed to "decide how much equality or how much inequality, or how much repression, should be meted out to the millions of hardworking immigrant families." "Immigrant workers, including the undocumented workers, are the sisters and brothers and allies of all those struggling for justice," the organization said. The boycott, according to the coalition, means no work, no school, no shopping, buying or business as usual.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/11/2006 09:45 ||
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#1
I anticipate a day when ANSWER and similar are correctly dealt with under National Security laws for advocating the overthrow of the lawful government of the United States. As for their enablers and allies within our government, our modern Rosenbergs, may they meet that same fate.
#3
Yeah, the money is what really fascinates me about these organizations. I suspected they financed themselves through useful idiot trust fund babies and mj etc. when I was in college. I wonder if that's still true and how they transfer leadership. Or does the new generation of leaders just set up a new front and horn in on the aging competitor?
#4
Remember, if you oppose illegal immigration, you use the same language as the Aryan Nation and [as the MSM points out] you are just Nazis.
However, if you support illegal immigration, you use the same language as the unrepetent Stalinist ANSWER and [as the MSM refuses to point out] you are Commies.
#5
What a shocker! Indeed, there were also present members of the New Black Panther Party in D.C.
Posted by: Humble pie ||
04/11/2006 15:21 Comments ||
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Several of the signs and person-specific comments on the MSM say it all, WHICH IS THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE INVOLVED, MUST TAKE CONTROL, AND MUST TREAT ILLEGALS DECENTLY AND HUMANELY, OR AS CITIZENS. THe Dems-Lefties are arguing for BURTHA-ISM, i.e. they'll support Dubya's progs only after Dubya allows them to go on public mass medias and proclaim how they hate Dubya, hate his policies, how Dubya must be investigated, impeached, or jailed; and how the GOP-Conservatives are arrogant bullying Mother Cindy/Hillary-less anti-Perfectionist crimicrats, etc. Will say again that Dubya's Dem-Lefty critics have no prob iff hated Adolf BusHitler = Marx's and Stalin's, etc delinquent Half-Commie brother Dubya wages war for global empire as long as Dubya-America unilater and voluntarily gives up its newfound empire, or militarily forcibly loses its newfound empire, in the end. The DemoLeft > Unreliable, Error-prone, Dishonest Fascist = HalfCommunist Amerika must lose and submit to Socialism and Socialist OWG, just as the "world community" must militarily force America to do same in the name of PC "anti-Fascism" = anti-HalfCommunism-HalfAbsolutism/
Totalitarianism, anti-Nuke War, and for "true Conservatism"!? Fed Washington must take over everything and anything domestically, while failing overseas, including to fail to protect America from new 9-11's. UTOPIA/PERFECT AMERIKA WILL BE ACHIEVED WHEN EVERYONE IN AMERIKAN SOVIET SSR NEEDS A SWORN AFFIDAVIT AND SUB-BUREAUCRACIES TO GET A GLASS OF WATER, MAKE LOVE, OR PET YOUR DOG, ETAL. AS LONG AS ITS POLITELY/QUIETLY UNDERSTOOR SOCIALISM APPLIES TO THE MASSES, THE MANY, NOT THE FEW, NOT THE HORDE = MAFIA = RULING COUNCIL = RULING ELITES = PARTY = GOVT. = EXTRA-GOVT. = HYPER-GOVT. = ...........! To paraphrase guest Adam Watt on CoasttoCoastAM, the future world-NWO will ideally only have ONE MILYUUUHN OR LESS PEOPLE IN IT.
... 'coz jihad(tm) is, of course, an inner struggle, you know. The "alliance of civilizations" in action.
BERLIN - The European Union, tiptoeing through a minefield of religious and cultural sensitivities, is discreetly reviewing the language it uses to describe terrorists who claim to act in the name of Islam.
EU officials are working on what they call a lexicon for public communication on terrorism and Islam, designed to make clear that there is nothing in the religion to justify outrages like the Sept. 11 attacks or the bombings of Madrid and London.
The lexicon would set down guidelines for EU officials and politicians.
Certainly Islamic terrorism is something we will not use ... we talk about terrorists who abusively invoke Islam, an EU official told Reuters.
Other terms being considered by the review include Islamist, fundamentalist and jihad. The latter, for example, is often used by al-Qaida and some other groups to mean warfare against infidels, but for most Muslims indicates a spiritual struggle.
Jihad means something for you and me, it means something else for a Muslim. Jihad is a perfectly positive concept of trying to fight evil within yourself, the official, speaking anonymously because the review is an internal one that is not expected to be made public, told Reuters.
EU counter-terrorism chief Gijs de Vries said that terrorism was not inherent to any religion, and praised moderate Muslims for opposing attempts to hijack Islam.
They have been increasingly active in isolating the radicals who abuse Islam for political purposes, and they deserve everyones support. And that includes the choice of language that makes clear that we are talking about a murderous fringe that is abusing a religion and does not represent it, de Vries said.
Cartoons dispute
The language used in the West when discussing Muslims and terrorism, and especially the charge by critics of Islam that it is an inherently violent religion, are highly sensitive and topical issues in Europe.
Danish newspaper cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, including one showing him with a bomb in his turban, provoked violent protests earlier this year in a number of Muslim countries where people saw them as blasphemous. At least 50 people were killed.
Figures like Muslim-born Dutch politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali argued during the uproar over the cartoons that within Islam exists a hard-line, intolerant movement that rejects free speech and democracy and deserves to be exposed and criticized.
The EU official familiar with the lexicon review said the point of using careful language was not to fall into the trap of offending and alienating citizens.
You dont want to use terminology which would aggravate the problem, he said. This is an attempt ... to be aware of the sensitivities implied by the use of certain language.
An initial paper on the issue is expected to be adopted in June. It is to help us understand what we are saying and try to avoid making mistakes. Its for the self-guidance of EU institutions and member states, the official said.
Omar Faruk, a Muslim British barrister who has advised the government on community issues, said there was a strong need for a new sort of political dialogue and terminology.
Asked about the phrase Islamic terrorism, he said: Those words cannot sit side by side. Islam is actually very much against any form of terrorism. ... Islam in itself means peace.
The widespread use of the expression just creates a culture where terrorism actually is identified with Islam. That causes me a lot of stress, Faruk added.
#3
You dont want to use terminology which would aggravate the problem,
Fag, how about fag ? As in Euros are fags. But don't say anything that hurts anyone's feelings.
Islam wants to kill you and enslave you and take over your world, fag. Don't piss them off, though, they could get mad.
This is the time Europe doesn't get it.
How long before they DO get it ?
#8
The logic behind this is ridiculously inconsistent. If you are afraid that the language you are using will exacerbate the problem, isn't there a good chance that the language you are seeking to change is aimed square at the heart of the problem, and accurately describing it? Otherwise, why would it exacerbate terroristic reactions? The only word for this is complete and utter cowardice (ok...the only 4 words...)
Highly classified documents detailing new security measures at Quebec's power corporation Hydro-Quebec were discovered on a bench in an east-end subway station, Radio-Canada reported Sunday.
The documents, totalling some 300 pages, were found recently in an abandoned file-folder by an employee of Radio-Canada, the CBC's French service.
The documents belong to a Hydro-Quebec security adviser, said Radio-Canada.
Well THAT sure inspires confidence
The latest security breach at the Crown corporation follows a Radio-Canada report last year in which a camera crew managed to enter a hydro dam unimpeded, raising questions about security around the province's power installations.
Following the report in February 2005 Hydro-Quebec promised to revamp its security measures.
The documents discovered in the subway station detail Hydro's response to the security leaks discovered last year. Radio-Canada said one document contains explicit descriptions of alarm, video-surveillance and anti-sabotage systems.
words fail. well, actually they don't but this is a family site ....
The papers also reveal temporary passwords to access various security systems and the home phone numbers of company executives, said Radio-Canada.
but don't worry, our staff will take extra precautions ...
Another document details how to make employee identity cards, the report said.
oh.
The provincially run company reportedly increased its security budget to $167 million annually, up from $133 million, in light of last year's breaches.
A Hydro-Quebec spokesperson said an employee working on the company's industrial security measures had their briefcase stolen while eating supper in a restaurant on March 10. He reported the theft to his superiors. The briefcase contained a computer and the documents found in the subway station.
The utility said it has taken steps to ensure a similar incident doesn't happen again.
Let's see ... THESE documents were steps to ensure a PREVIOUS breach didn't happen.
``It's a very unfortunate situation,'' said spokesperson Marc-Andre Chamberland. ``As soon as the theft happened, we tightened security measures so that these types of documents, among others, will never leave Hydro-Quebec.''
horses. barn doors.
Radio-Canada said that the owner of the briefcase immediately told his superiors about the theft. Hydro-Quebec said they contacted police and have opened their own investigation into the matter.
but wait for it ...
However, Chamberland added there were no immediate plans to change to the company's new security plan. amazing.
#2
I just find it a bit too convienient that these documents were left on a subway station bench and just happened to have been found by an employee of Radio-Canada. what are those odds?
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
04/11/2006 7:32 Comments ||
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discovered on a bench in an east-end subway station...found by an employee of Radio-Canada
More like placed on bench between the inside man from Hydro and his contact at the radio station.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/11/2006 8:30 Comments ||
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``It's a very unfortunate situation,'' said spokesperson Marc-Andre Chamberland.
Errr..is that sort of like the envelopes I receive in the mail with all sorts of red lettering saying "Postmaster do not delay" "very important material needing your immediate attention" with the bulk mailing markings in the upper right hand corner. Oh, and the traditional "You are a winner".
#6
This is why I am against nuclear power plants.
They're safe, they're safe, they'er very safe, until someass splodydopes a hole in one, or a meltdown, or a plane crash, or a muzzie who seemed like a regular guy............
#9
This doesn't sound right: A friend of mine used to work at the nuke plant in Southeast Georgia, and he said industrial nuke "classified", leastways in the US, is not the same as Military classified. It's a bit weaker than confidential.
The security breach that happened last year happened at a DAM. Same acquaintance told me that, before the Olympics in Atlanta, the security had been upgraded and that the news on the terrorist street then was that the Georgia nuke plants were "hard targets". Dunno what their status is now.
Canadian soldiers could be charged with war crimes in the International Criminal Court because of an agreement the government approved on the handling of detainees captured in Afghanistan, warns a report to be released today.
The legal opinion on the arrangement regarding prisoners, captured by Canadian troops and then turned over to the Afghan government, raises a number of red flags about the lack of safeguards to protect soldiers against prosecution. "Whoever negotiated this agreement did our soldiers a great disservice," said Michael Byers, an international law professor at the University of British Columbia, who wrote the opinion.
Read on, it wasn't the new government.
That report is one of two to be released today at a press conference involving Amnesty International, the Polaris Institute, an Ottawa-based think-tank, and legal experts.
The second report by University of Ottawa Prof. Amir Attaran, a constitutional human rights law specialist, also questions the detainee agreement that Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier signed in Kabul in December. "The mere fact there is a possibility for Canadian troops to be charged demonstrates how fundamentally flawed this detainee transfer arrangement is," added Byers, author of the book War Law: Understanding International Law and Armed Conflict.
Conservative government and Liberal party officials, however, have dismissed any concerns about the agreement. Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor said last week he is satisfied with the pact and noted it met international law standards. "There is nothing in the agreement that prevents Canada from determining the fate of prisoners so there is no need to make any change in the agreement," O'Connor said.
Opposition leader Bill Graham, who was the Liberal's defence minister when the agreement was signed, approves the arrangement.
Of course he does.
Under international law Canada has an obligation to ensure any detainee is protected against torture, not only when they are transferred into Afghan custody but if they are sent onwards to a third nation, such as the U.S. Under a statute of the International Criminal Court, if soldiers transferred prisoners to another party knowing or even suspecting those individuals would be abused or tortured, then the troops, including their commanders who ordered the transfer, could one day face war crimes charges, according to Byers.
Unlike the Canadian Forces, the Dutch military has negotiated a more stricter agreement, Byers said. The Dutch military's agreement with the Afghan government provides its officers and diplomats the right to check on the condition of those originally captured by Dutch soldiers. The Dutch government would also be informed if the detainees are transferred to a third party. Canada's agreement does not provide for that.
#1
Future generations, or the 1.2Bilyuhn or less that survive, to includ 100Milyuhn or less Americans, must be saved and protected from the damnable, sheer unmitigated horrors of Christina and Glaze-gate. ITS FOR THE CHILDREN, D*** YOU!?
#3
Future generations, or the 1.2Bilyuhn or less that survive, to includ 100Milyuhn or less Americans, must be saved and protected from the damnable, sheer unmitigated horrors of Christina and Glaze-gate. ITS FOR THE CHILDREN, D*** YOU!?
#4
1) Thre is NO international law. Laws are thingies who are voted by the ELECTED represntives of the people.
2) The name you are trying to find is treaties and ac cording to the Geneva convedntion irregumlars are NOT protected be it aginst summary execution or torture
3) The only people who may nbe subject to War crimes charges are the jihadists.
#5
3) The only people who may nbe subject to War crimes charges are the jihadists.
No, no, no, JFM, you don't understand, you don't understand at all! What are you, some kind of weirdo who thinks common sense and morality should rule the day? Next thing, you'll say that the Un should interverne in Sudan, if it had any decency, or something.
The only people who may be subject to war crimes charges are troops and officials from western armies and gvt.
To the Enlightened Elites, the only goal of the "international law" (scare quotes as explained by you) is to entangle the Nation-States and their actions, not to concern itself with such petty matters as actual war crimes (except when they're comitted by an unfashionable, IE white and rightwing/nationalist, dictator).
This is transnational progressism in action, here.
It is understood that in May 1997 an Indian Air Force MiG-25RB overflew Pakistan. The aircraft entered Pakinstani airspace sub-sonically at around 65,000ft and was undetected. Then having overflown and photographed strategic installations near the capital, Islamabad, the Indian MiG-25 aircraft turned back towards India. Perhaps to rub Pakistanis noses in it, the Foxbat pilot decided to accelerate up to Mach 2 and dropped a large sonic boom as he exited Pakistani airspace.
The Mig-25 flew beyond the range of Pakistani air defences and interceptor capabilities, well over 65,000 feet.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has announced it will retire its fleet of MiG 25s, Cold War-era spyplanes, previously shrouded in secrecy.
A spokesman said the last of the IAF's four surviving MiG-25s will be phased out of service on 1 May.
The MiGs, capable of flying at over three times the speed of sound, were bought from the USSR in 1981.
"It will be a nostalgic event and a flypast will be held," Air Vice Marshal S Mukherjee said.
He said the aircraft would be shown at various installations after they had been retired.
'Darned good machine'
India originally bought 10 of the MiGs from the Soviet Union and nicknamed the 20-ton reconnaissance planes Garuda after the mythical Hindu eagle king.
The aircraft were based at an undisclosed location.
"It was a darned good machine but even today we are not permitted to speak of the daredevilry these stratospheric planes have been used for," an unnamed MiG 25 pilot was quoted by news agency AFP.
"All I can say is that I more than once hit Seven Plus (70,000 feet) with them," he said.
The MiG 25, which was built in both reconnaissance and interceptor versions, is the fastest combat aircraft ever built, apart from the US Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird spyplane.
It was designed in the late 1960s to beat the US Air Force's XB-70, a supersonic bomber which never entered service. The Pentagon's misplaced belief that the MiG was a highly-agile dogfighter spurred the development of the US F-15 and F-16 fighters.
In 1976, a Soviet pilot defected to Japan in a MiG 25. The US subsequently stripped the aircraft and studied it before returning it to the USSR.
They found the MiG was a heavy but powerful aircraft with a 1950s-vintage radar capable of burning through protective electronic countermeasures.
MiG 25s were later exported to several nations, including Algeria, Syria and Iraq.
Posted by: john ||
04/11/2006 15:15 ||
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"It will be a nostalgic event and a flypast will be held," Air Vice Marshal S Mukherjee said.
Notice the term used was "flypast" vs flyover.
B. Getn Smarter
#2
(flashing back to 1992) When playing as the red team in Harpoon, the treat was having some MiG-25s to play with. As long as it had enough fuel to run the afterburner, it was too fast to be shot down with any missile that the blue team had.
#3
I understand that if you flew a MiG-25 at full throttle, you needed to change out the engines after you landed.
Posted by: Mike ||
04/11/2006 16:38 Comments ||
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#4
"The MiGs, capable of flying at over three times the speed of sound." An Egyptian pilot in the 1970s flew one over Mach 2. After the flight the engines were fried and I believe he bent the airframe landing it.
Commercial interests may have denied the Indian Navy access to a port to berth the indigenous nuclear submarine which is being built.
NDTV has learnt that a contract has been granted to a foreign player, the Dubai Ports World to develop the Gangavaram port in Andhra Pradesh.
A few days ago, Gangavaram was in the news after violent protests against the construction of a new port, India's largest in Andhra Pradesh.
Questions raised
But now a senior retired official has questioned whether the interests of India's Eastern Naval Command has been compromised.
The Navy wanted Gangavaram as a base for its nuclear submarines. But they've been told to look elsewhere and the go-ahead for the port has been given to the Dubai Ports World, the world's third biggest port operator.
Incidentally, DPW was in the news recently after US lawmakers successfully protested against them taking over the New York port.
Sources told NDTV, India seems to have compromised its security to accommodate Dubai Ports World, now a controversial monopoly operator in India.
According to the sources, Gangavaram was identified by the Navy as best suited to build berthing facilities for its Advanced Technology Vessel project or nuclear submarine.
But four years ago, the Navy was told to look elsewhere.
"The Eastern Naval Command at Vishakhapatnam has many strategic assets placed around there. A foreign company operating in Gangavaram hardly a few kilometres away certainly in my view, raises security issues of a very serious nature," said EAS Sharma, former secretary, Economic Affairs.
Strategic location
It was in Vishakhapatnam, at the Eastern Naval Command that Chakra, the nuclear submarine leased from the Soviet Union, was berthed and the new acquisitions were to have been docked.
Gangavaram is just 15 kilometres from Vishakhapatnam, so close that even the Dubai Ports website talks of Vishakhapatnam instead of Gangavaram.
It is this proximity to the Eastern Naval Command that is worrying senior officials.
"I have written about this to the home minister and I have addressed the National Security Advisor and also I have addressed the defence secretary and I am sure they will look into it.
"But I am sure the Defence Ministry would have raised objections when the foreign port's proposal was considered. I am surprised how the Defence Ministry's objections were not considered at that time.
"In my view Gangavaram port project is economically not a very comfortable proposition strategically it is an imprudent decision. Yet it was pushed through in undue haste and that shows questionable motives and attitudes," the former Economic Affairs secretary said.
No response from Navy
NDTV asked the Defence Ministry whether Gangavaram was identified as a naval facility for strategic assets and if so, why the ministry allowed Dubai Ports to take over the site?
The US Congress barred Dubai Ports on grounds of national security.
Does the Dubai Ports in Gangavaram pose a security threat, NDTV asked the Defence Ministry, but there was no reply.
Did commercial compulsions force politicians to shift India's nuclear submarine base? Or did larger geopolitical reasons place a private player in India's strategic backyard? This top secret decision is indeed intriguing.
Posted by: john ||
04/11/2006 14:48 ||
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Earthquake has destroyed everything, but 'Pakistan army has won a lottery'. These were the words of an Islamabad based Pakistani journalist who came to London about a month after the most destructive earthquake in South Asia.
I have known this journalist for many years and find him very sincere and informed person. We had a number of meetings in London and discussed various issues related to Pakistan, Kashmir and the earthquake.
He was of the opinion that Pakistan's most problems are related to army and feudalism. He said army had ' commercialised and 'legalised politics and corruption'. In his view Pakistan army is the only army which has many retired and serving generals as millionaires.
Afghan war or more precisely America's war which Pakistan managed and controlled in name of 'Jihad' produced a number of army millionaires. When Russians withdrew from Afghanistan, this 'jihad' changed its characteristics and target. It continued in Afghanistan where Muslims killed other Muslims and yet claimed it a 'Jihad'; as far as controlling elite were concerned it still produced some Afghan and Pakistani millionaires.
Change of target from Russia or Afghanistan to Jammu and Kashmir also proved very 'profitable' to those who have taken this struggle as a lucrative business; and have joined millionaire's league. Although we Kashmiris have lost more than fifty thousand people, but a few will find some consolation that 'jihad' in Kashmir has also produced some Kashmiri millionaires.
The earthquake has brought destruction, misery and suffering; it has also shown sacrifice, dedication and perseverance of people struggling to cope with natural tragedy and greed of their fellow human beings. Some people with criminal mind have looted, sold items designated for quake victims and even kidnapped helpless women and children.
It is alleged that some government officials and some men in uniform were also involved in this 'evil business' of looting and selling relief items. During this time when that Pakistani journalist was here in London we saw some disturbing reports alleging some Pakistani army men selling tents and other items. We also saw reports that authorities turned blind eye and some help sent by international donors ended up in hands of religious groups, which helped them to enhance and strengthen their position in the area.
This journalist said, while he saluted great help and concern shown by majority of the people and army men in general, he strongly condemned those who were involved in this 'evil trade'. In order to prove his point he had some clippings of the Pakistani papers. He said, 'this disaster is like a lottery for Pakistan army, and they will make most from this, and we will see some more millionaires in uniform'.
I was tempted to write on this but decided not to because I didn't want my opponents to accuse me for being 'anti Pakistan '. Any Kashmiri who dares to criticise deeds of Pakistani government or Pakistani army is perceived as 'anti Pakistan'; and in worst case scenario 'pro India'. Since the earthquake I have received many phone calls and emails from Azad Kashmir informing me about problems with the relief work and what 'lies' have been told in name of helping victims of the disaster.
Apart from that JKLF and Kashmir Awami Foundation teams also visited affected areas and provided help and support. I am office bearer in the both organization, and they also told me many disturbing stories. Officers of these NGOs have confirmed the above stories. Out of many emails and verbal stories I am producing two email letters to show the extent of problem seen by some local people:
Dear Dr.Shabir Sahib Assalam-o-Alaikum
Actually they submitted the report to donors that army built 2,95000 shelters in earth quack hit areas of Azad Kashmir, and charged 65000 per shelter from the amount donated by international community in the name of Kashmir. Fact is this, all these shelters in Azad Kashmir are built by NGOs like Midair,NRSP, UNDP, Islamic Relief, APNA Sahara Trust, and individuals from Kotli and Mirpur. They even unloaded hundreds of trucks of relief goods sent by the people of Pakistan and Kotli Mirpur, but did not distribute to affectees.
They must be exposed to donors. They are planning to plunder the remaining amount
Please, write to US UK and UN to monitor the process of reconstruction. All the cement and steel producers (Ex-generals and Punjabi Land lords) have raised the price by 50 percent as they know the seven hundred houses and government buildings are going to be constructed. Actually generals and landlords have made cartel to suck the blood from the veins of earth quack victims.
You claim to be brave and honest I will wait and see if you have courage to write on this topic. ( Name withheld for security reasons.)
This e-mail was sent to me by a Kashmiri journalist on 20th March 2006. A similar email was sent to me by another journalist on 5th April 2006, and I have no reasons to doubt sincerity of these people as I have personally known them for some years. Relevant excerpts of the second email are also produced below:
Dear Dr. Shabir Choudhry Sahib
I hope you are well. Sir, please write on this issue, I am sending you some facts.
'Pakistan army has claimed to built three hundred thousands shelters of CGI sheets in earthquake affected areas of Azad Kashmir, and charged 65000 rupees per shelter from the international community. But fact is this, on ground not a single shelter made by army in Azad Kashmir, and they claimed the shelters made by some NGOs and Kashmiri people belong to Mirpur in their own account. Same was the case in distribution of relief of goods. They distributed all blankets and tents given by foreign countries to the soldiers. In this regard five thousands Korean blankets seized by MI (Military Intelligence) at Kohala from three army vehicles and arrested 150 soldiers including a Captain and some JCOs Actually these blankets were given to them for distribution in Bagh area of Azad`Kashmir Recently General Pervez Musharaf promised to pull out army from rehabilitation and reconstruction process with International NGOs, but GHQ resisted on this and compelled him to cancel has decision. They also plunder huge amount in compensation amount in affected areas'.
OK Allah hafiz. ( Name withheld for security reasons)
I was disturbed by reading details of this email because according to this, victims of the earthquake were exploited; and some people in position were determined to fill in their coffers by every possible means. Despite this I decided not to write on this as I thought may be he is trying to provoke me to write on this, but when another journalist wrote more or less same things it confirmed some published and unpublished reports about this situation.
This was also in line with what I was told by JKLF and KAF teams who had returned to UK after visiting the affected areas. There were other independent people who had gone to the disaster hit area and came back with horrifying stories. In view of this I thought it was only appropriate that I also highlight the issue through my sources and join those who are engaged in this jihad of helping people and bringing out truth.
Thousands of good people from Pakistan, Azad Kashmir and around the globe have worked very hard and under very difficult conditions to help and save lives; and I wholeheartedly salute them, but I cannot resist criticising those who have tarnished the good work because of their greed and callousness. Good people in Pakistan army and in Pakistani administration need to be more vigilant that they can ensure transparency and just distribution of goods.
Apart from that they want to curb excess greed of those who supply goods needed to construct shelters and houses. It would be a good idea to encourage local business people to set up small industries that housing construction goods and other items could be produced locally. It will not only strengthen local economy and trade, but will also give boost to the morale of suffering people as this will give them sense of achievement.
If no attention is paid to this side of construction and rehabilitation then my fear is that we will see an army of destitutes and beggars in Azad Kasmir who will always look across the Kohala and towards NGOs for help and support.
Posted by: john ||
04/11/2006 14:21 ||
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NEW DELHI - The US Congress was likely to pass a landmark nuclear energy deal with India, but the vote might be delayed until January after the American midterm elections, a leading senator said on Monday.
Chuck Hagel, chairman of the U.S. Senates Foreign Relations Sub-Committee, told a news conference in the Indian capital he expected the deal would ultimately be approved without amendments. Its conceivable that this would have to be put off until the beginning of the next Congress which would be January next year, he said, adding that he hoped for a vote before the end of the year. Im confident that Congress will vote for it.
The nuclear civil cooperation deal, agreed on a visit to India by President George W. Bush last month, would allow New Delhi to buy foreign nuclear technology for the first time in 30 years, despite its refusal to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. But the deal must be approved by the US Congress, where it has met significant opposition.
Indian lobbyists say that some Democrats, who have raised objections to the deal, could be playing for time. Although they favour stronger relations between the two countries, the Democrats are reluctant to hand Bush a foreign policy coup so close to the November elections, lobbyists say.
Since they really don't have anything to offer in the election.
One sticking point has been Indias insistence that it will continue to do business with Iran, a country accused by Washington of sponsoring terrorism.
Senator Hagel said that questions about Indias relationship with Iran were legitimate, but they would not become a condition of the United States accepting the deal. The President of the US signed an agreement with the Prime Minister of India -- that is what we are evaluating. No additions, no subtractions, no amendments, he said.
Senator Hagel, a Republican, would not say what his own initial reservations about the deal were, but said they had since been addressed. I think strategically it represents one of the most thoughtful new approaches to foreign policy in maybe 25 years, he said of the deal.
That and GWB's unwillingness to tolerate a 'realist' approach to foreign policy that leaves people suffering under thugs.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/11/2006 00:00 ||
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LAHORE: Clerics should follow and propagate the Islamic principles of tolerance and restraint, said Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi during the Provincial Seerat Conference on Monday.
We keep hearing this song. I think it's in the Islamic Top Ten.
He said it was a matter of concern that patience and forgiveness had vanished from Pakistani society.
... to be replaced by foaming at the mouth and periodic carnage. I'd call that a matter of concern, but then I'm not a holy man.
He said sectarianism was dangerous for Pakistan and urged clerics to play their role to eliminate the menace.
He can say that with a straight face after the SSP hoedown last week.
Elahi said that Islam was a religion of peace and it did not allow anyone to impose his ideology on others.
... unless they're already Muslims, in which case they must be killed if they decide to become Lutherans or something. Or unless they're infidels, in which case they're fair game for despoiling.
He said it was unfortunate that Islam was being presented as a religion of extremism, which was because Muslims had not been able to project their religion in its true perspective.
I'm sure they've been trying, but we haven't noticed it through the gunfire and explosions. Probably our fault, y'know...
He said that Prophet Muhammads (may his drip clear up peace be upon him) life was a practical manifestation of Islamic teachings and it was an article of faith for Muslims to follow the Holy Prophets (ptui pbuh) teachings.
... which is why good Islamists like to diddle little girls and despoil their neighbors.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2006 00:00 ||
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LAHORE: There is little doubt of the governments involvement in the spread of sectarianism after the rally organised by the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) in Islamabad recently, which apparently had the full support of the administration, said the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Monday.
In case you were asleep at the time, Perv decided that SSP could rehabilitate themselves, provided they kept a low profile. They responded by staging a big rally and calling for world domination...
The HRCP had been saying for a long time now that the government had played a direct role in the spread of intolerance and militancy, demonstrated by the latest SSP meeting, said HRCP Secretary General Syed Iqbal Haider in a statement on Monday.
It's that assumption of subtlety and slickness on the part of the oligarchy running Pakland. They're continuously trying to play both ends against the middle — the devious game being the preferred game, whether it's called for or not.
Literature preaching jihad and hatred against Shias was openly distributed at the rally last Friday and discs of American soldiers being beheaded in Iraq were sold as hundreds of policemen looked on. Organisers thanked the Islamabad administration for allowing the rally under floodlights at a bus depot, he added.
But that's okay, because then they went back to their mosques to hatch plots to subvert the same Islamabad administration. All parties share that fondness for the devious game...
He said it was shocking that such a rally had been allowed when other political activists from mainstream parties, journalists and citizens had been stopped from holding peaceful gatherings.
I don't know that I'd say I was shocked. Tired, maybe...
Nobody was arrested and the gathering was not stopped despite the blatant violation of laws against inciting violence, he added. It is obvious that there will be no end to extremism and hatred in society while official policies promote such things.
Like I said, it's policy to keep as many groups at each other's throats as possible. That way no single group becomes strong enough to displace the oligarchs...
"In the past too, religious leaders have been able to spread terror in major cities and the state machinery has looked on, he said, adding that the pledges for enlightened moderation were only for foreign audience. He said that citizens were suffering from violence triggered by sectarian groups, which was spreading across the country and affecting the lives of millions of people adversely.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
discs of American soldiers being beheaded in Iraq ???
Are Pakistani Islamists playing dress up and removing heads of their underlings? Must be tough being an actor in the Paki film biz.
Posted by: ed ||
04/11/2006 0:23 Comments ||
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Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Monday that the government was working on a comprehensive plan to tap the tourism potential of the country including simplifying visa and other travel procedures for tourists wanting to visit in the northern areas.
He was talking to Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili sect, who called on him at the Prime Minister House. Aziz said that Pakistan had a lot of potential for tourism and necessary facilities were being made to facilitate tourists. He said plans were underway to offer tourist packages for Gandhara and the northern areas to attract more tourists. Investment and business opportunities in the country were also discussed during the meeting. The PM said that numerous investment opportunities had been created as a result of the government's investor-friendly policies. He referred to the construction of a new airport, which would resume flights to Islamabad.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2006 00:00 ||
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I wouldn't visit Pakistan even if the Aga Khan gave me his entire net worth....
Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Monday that the government would hold no more talks with Nawab Akbar Bugti to resolve the Balochistan issue. The government will be in control of the troubled areas of the province within a couple of months, the minister told reporters in Parliament House. He said members of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army had been arrested and they had confessed their crimes.
"They have admitted that they were involved in targeting important national installations and bomb blasts for which they were being paid," Ahmed said, adding that they also admitted they were working for Nawab Akbar Bugti. He said that the government banned the BLA only after it gathered sufficient evidence that the group was involved in terrorist activities.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2006 00:00 ||
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The Pakistani government defended on Monday a decision to forcibly retire (retrench) an air force officer who refused to trim his beard on religious grounds, Reuters reported. Squadron Leader Mohsin Hayat Ranjha was retired in October and four of his colleagues were grounded for violating a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) dress code that allows trimmed beards, but bars long beards on the grounds they pose a safety risk. "There is no ban on any Pakistan Air Force personnel of any rank keeping a beard, but there has to be a limit to the length of a beard," Tanveer Hussain Syed, parliamentary secretary for defence, told parliament after an MMA legislator raised the issue.
Oxygen masks worn by airmen flying at high altitude can malfunction as a result of beards being too bushy, Syed said, after Islamist politician Liaquat Baluch accused the air force of enforcing un-Islamic rules.
Syed said Ranjha was asked to trim his facial hair as a long beard made it difficult to fix the mask tightly on the face, which could be dangerous for both the pilot and the machine. "He not only refused to do it, in violation of the dress code of a PAF officer, but he also incited others to grow similar beards." PAF spokesman Air Commodore Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan confirmed Ranjha had been forced into early retirement and that the cases
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
The devout don't need no stinkin' oxygen.
Posted by: ed ||
04/11/2006 0:28 Comments ||
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#2
Guess than rules out the women.
Posted by: Captain America ||
04/11/2006 0:33 Comments ||
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#3
Anyway, I seem to remember that beards are a big no-no in standard armed forces, since they interfere with gas mask and the likes, as illustrated here. Plus this guy clearly keeps it because he's a fundie, and a proselyter as well.
The devout don't need no stinkin' oxygen.
Yeah, allan will take care of that if you're holy enough. It's written in the koran(tm), somewhere.
#9
"you can keep the beard, we'll just have to do a tracheotomy"
I'll take "stupid islamic scholars" for $500, Alex. Wonder if they let the firefighters wear long beards - same problems with face masks
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/11/2006 11:53 Comments ||
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#10
Also, for ground support personal, long beards can get caught in the jet turbines. Makes a mess and it takes a while and a lot of money to fix the engine.
#11
Oh yes, let the fundies keep their beards and play with chemical weapons at the same time. The face seal on any protective mask is dependent on contact with skin. If Pakis want to enforce the no-beards rule, make the fundies do daily tours of a CS gas training facility with their beards and masks, and make them go into the live gas room each time.
India and Afghanistan yesterday called on their neighbor Pakistan to join hands in a regional effort to fight terrorism and promote economic cooperation.
I hope they're not holding their national breath...
The appeal was made by visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a joint news conference after their talks on a wide range of issues. India has been a victim of terrorism for nearly 20 years. Both India and Afghanistan have suffered due to terrorism. Even Pakistan is not immune to terrorism, Manmohan said.
What they didn't add was that both India and Afghanistan have been suffering from Pak terrorism for 20 years. The fact that Pakland isn't immune to terrorism itself merely indicates that they've created a Frankenstein's monster that they think they can control but can't. If it wasn't for the corpse counts it'd be funny, in a horrible kind of way.
The two leaders stressed the need for cooperation between India, Afghanistan and Pakistan to fight the menace of terrorism affecting the entire region. I very much hope that all of us in this region will join hands to fight this menace. Karzai said.
I think it'd be a lot more to the point for India and Afghanistan to join hands to fight against the terrorism emanating from Pakistan, which is probably what the two actually talked about in private.
Asked about Pakistans alleged role in fueling terrorism in Afghanistan and in the region, Karzai replied: Terrorism is affecting all countries in the region. It is affecting our brothers in Pakistan. We will find a more effective way to deal with this menace.
I'd suggest a combination of special operations and high explosives.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2006 00:00 ||
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I doubt Pakistan will survive the decade as a single country. The question is how to guide the split peacefully.
It might do India some good to have a series of peaceful independent states along the Northwest frontier even if that meant giving up claims to Kashmir and possibly their own Punjab state (as that would become a battleground once Pakistani Punjab went independent). The question is at what point does that slope become overly slippery and the risks outweight potential gains. That and pride. Never forget how pride can screw things up.
BAGHDAD - Iraqs Sunni leaders Monday rejected incumbent Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafaris candidacy as the next premier, their spokesman said. We have sent a letter to our Shiite brothers explaining that our position remains the same -- that of rejecting Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafaris candidacy, Thafer Al Ani, spokesman of Sunni-led National Concord Front told AFP.
The National Concord Front has 44 seats in the 275-member Iraqi parliament. They will get the letter in a short while, he added.
Late Sunday Iraqs other main political faction, the Kurdish group, rejected Jaafari staying on in the post. We have once again rejected Jaafaris candidacy, Kurdish lawmaker Mahmud Othman told AFP after a meeting between leaders of the Kurdish coalition in parliament and representatives of Jaafaris party.
Iraqs Shiite parliament bloc formed a committee Sunday to decide the fate of Jaafari and end a standoff that has left a yawning power vacuum nearly four months after landmark elections in December.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/11/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
SLAP!
That ones for you Tater!
(NOW do you wonder why were beating the hell out of the Mahdi Army? I think the Iraqis got the hint).
Now they can get ot business and get someone who isnt a "kept man" in there.
#4
The fact that he won't step down in the face of opposition, even when he's not in power yet, is an indication that he won't step down when he IS in power.
The UN has neither affirmed nor denied a report that first appeared in a New York newspaper that a raid had been carried out on behalf of the UN at Ashraf Jehangir Qazi's office or residence in Baghdad in connection with charges of corruption.
This article kind of sings sweet harmony with the Kosovo UN corruption article, doesn't it?
The UN secretary general's spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, at his daily press briefing on Monday, would not comment when asked more than once if any such raid had been carried out at the residence or office of Qazi, who is the secretary general's special representative in Iraq. He said the UN "routinely" investigates all allegations of corruption or mismanagement. The spokesman also praised Qazi, who, according to him, had the secretary general's complete confidence as his work was appreciated, being done under very difficult circumstances.
"So it's only fair that he gets to wet his beak a little now and then, okay?"
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2006 00:00 ||
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#5
His hag wife has made similar pronouncements before and nothing ever came of them. I only hope that the only reason they would want him is so that Mr Eitan could follow through with what she says he would have wished to do had he sought asylum in the Israeli Embassy.
#6
when he came across information vital to Israel's security that was not being transferred to the Jewish state - contrary to an intelligence-sharing agreement between the U.S. and Israel.
Dont you just love the Pollard fairy tale.
Once upon a time, there was a man who worked very hard and loved his country. Unfortunately he was actually employed by another country. Then one day, while working for that other country, he just happened to stumble upon some information that would forever change his life. This information, that just materialized out of the blue, made the man very confused and sad. You see this information was about yet another country wanting to do bad things to the country he loved. He was sad because he thought his employer country and the country he loved were friends. So one day he
And the moral of the story is Rot in Prison, you treasonous traitor bastard
#7
Let me see if I have this straight. A US Citizen, traitorous spy who should have faced a firing squad is being considered for release due to the appeals of a foreign government? Very interesting concept. If this is true (which I have some doubts), I suspect POTUS popularity will slip from 36% to somewhere near 3%.
#9
Blondie's right, Mrs. Pollard has floated this turd in the punchbowl before and nobody wanted to touch it. The wife ought to be glad she isn't sharing a cell with her husband.
#10
"Mrs. Pollard said about Eitan today. She charged that Eitan once said that if he were present when Pollard tried to find asylum in the Israeli Embassy, he would have 'shot him in the head, thus ending the Pollard affair before it even began.'"
That the Palestinian Authority coffers register empty since Hamas took office is due to two causes:
1. The Persian Gulf donors including Saudi Arabia are holding back promised funds not because they object to a Hamas government but because of a sanctified tradition, whereby pledges are an expression of goodwill but do not have to be fully translated into every dollar and cent and certainly not in haste.
2. The American and European clampdown has made the banks which until now handled Palestinian Authority finances wary of carrying out transfers. The Arabian Bank which is owned by a Jordanian Palestinian family and the Bank of Cairo fear their branches in the United States and other countries may be shut down in reprisal for handling the accounts of a terrorist organization.
Even so, the Palestinian treasury needs not be insolvent. The Palestine Investment Fund PIF set up to conceal and invest the funds Yasser Arafat diverted from international donations to the Palestinian people is now in the hands of Mahmoud Abbas.
The capital is estimated at $1.2-1.4 billion and its monthly yield counted in tens of millions.
However, Abu Mazen, who holds the key to this hoard, will not hand over a single dollar until Hamas recognizes not Israel, but the Palestinian Liberation Organization as the paramount authority of the Palestinian people. Abu Mazen argues the PIF belongs to the PLO and he may not release funds to an organization that refuses to recognize its authority.
In the unresolved tug-o-war over supreme authority over Palestinian government institutions, Abbas is also using the fund to put the squeeze on Hamas. He wants to be recognized as top boss of Palestinian government rather than Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniya. He also insists on acceptance of his role as the commander of the Palestinian security and intelligence services not the Hamas interior minister, Said Siam.
On the face of it, the economic blockade policy initiated by the Bush administration and Israels new leaders Ehud Olmert and foreign minister Tzipi Livni, is working. They believe Hamas will be cornered into coming up to scratch - recognizing Israel, renouncing violence and accepting all previous PLO and PA accords.
However, Hamas may be financially distressed, but its leaders believe they still have several weeks to play with before the crunch. For the time being, Israel may talk tough and even crack down on terror, but it has not switched off the flow of fuel, fuel products, electricity, water and medicines to the Gaza Strip free of charge for now.
Hamas is managing to avoid spending any money on government administration. Its tacticians plan to foist the payroll on Abu Mazen, who they say cannot both claim to be top man in the Palestinian Authority and duck responsibility for its personnels paychecks.
In other words, while the US, Europe and Israel hope the financial standoff will raise Abbas standing with the Palestinian public, Hamas is blackening his name accusing him of acting as a collaborator in the schemes of Washington and Jerusalem to hobble elected Palestinian government. In a matter of weeks, they believe Abbas will be forced to come to Haniya, cap in hand.
#1
Reason #3 - Radical Iran is making its prelim moves toward reviving the Persian Empires, at least REGIONALLY within the lifetime of the present generations, to includ providing support for HAMAS' agenda. For non-Iranian/non-Shia Muslim nations To support HAMAS and other IRAN-supp groups is to help ensure Iran's desire for future final domination.
#3
The Persian Gulf donors including Saudi Arabia are holding back promised funds not because they object to a Hamas government but because of a sanctified tradition, whereby pledges are an expression of goodwill but do not have to be fully translated into every dollar and cent and certainly not in haste.
Too funny. Arabs are like our own liberals. It's all about an expression of solidarity. Words need not be followed by actions. As long as they express solidarity they feel they can feel the love and wash their hands. "I've got your back" just means I'll give you a thumbs up and head for the back door if you actually need me for anything.
#4
The Palestine Investment Fund PIF set up to conceal and invest the funds Yasser Arafat diverted from international donations to the Palestinian people is now in the hands of Mahmoud Abbas.
PIF combined capital funding: About 1.5 billionUSD.
Mahmud Abbas annual salary: Whatever he can lay his hands on.
However, Abu Mazen, who holds the key to this hoard, will not hand over a single dollar until Hamas recognizes not Israel, but the Palestinian Liberation Organization as the paramount authority of the Palestinian people.
Choking the sh!t economic lifeblood out of your political adversaries while not even complying with direct promises made to the international community.
Posted by: Captain America ||
04/11/2006 17:14 Comments ||
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"you keep your damn hands off MY money! It's mine! I earned it with a Turkey Baster! That disgusting old bisexual man wasn't gonna touch me..no way!
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas vowed to fight Israeli bid to isolate the Hamas-run government as financial pressure on the beleaguered regime intensified yesterday. As European Union foreign ministers approved a decision to suspend aid to the Palestinian Authority, Abbas called on the international community to end its unfair treatment of his people and instead help them realize their dream of independence. His office revealed that Abbas would embark this month on a tour of Europe and North Africa in a bid to counter Israels own diplomatic offensive which has seen acting Premier Ehud Olmert institute a boycott of any foreign officials who make contacts with Hamas ministers.
We call on the Israeli government to stop these measures which are only intended to isolate the Palestinian Authority, said Abbas in a speech at his Ramallah headquarters on the West Bank. We will not accept this, we will not allow this to become a reality. We will emerge from this isolation whatever the cost. Olmert on Sunday said that all contacts would be frozen with what he called a hostile authority, referring to Hamas refusal to renounce the use of violence or recognize the Jewish states right to exist. We say to the Israeli government that we are a peaceful nation but we want our rights, said Abbas, whose own Fatah faction was defeated by Hamas in a January parliamentary election. He said that the Palestinian people wanted what had already been promised to them, mainly a viable state. Is this too much to ask? Is this too much for the world to handle?
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2006 00:00 ||
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas vowed to fight Israeli bid to isolate the Hamas-run government as financial pressure on the beleaguered regime intensified yesterday.
A letter from the Hamas-led government referring to a "two-state solution" - a phrase implying acceptance of Israel has become an official UN document despite a disavowal by the Palestinian foreign minister.
Yep. It's got a stamp and a seal on it now. There's no possible way they can back out, right?
The United Nations has not received any retractions or corrections of the letter that Mahmoud al-Zahar, the Palestinian foreign minister, wrote earlier this month to Kofi Annan, the world body chief. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN observer, told reporters on Monday: "The letter is obvious. It says what it says. It is now an official UN document." When Mansour distributed an unofficial translation on April 4, al-Zahar told reporters in Gaza that the wrong version had been sent to the UN and produced another one without references to the two-state solution.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
"...a "two-state solution" - a phrase implying acceptance of Israel..."
Sure. One state-Palestine, from the river to the sea; the other state-Israel, from the Rhein to the Danube.
Four people have been killed in an exchange of fire between soldiers and suspected separatists in Indonesia's remote resource-rich province of Papua, a military spokesman said. Ahmad Yani Basuki, spokesman of the Indonesian armed forces in Jakarta, said the clash erupted when a group of 30 armed men attacked soldiers monitoring a health event in a village some 70 kilometres from the provincial capital Jayapura. "The attackers used A-47 rifles, axes and bows and arrows. Two of our members died while two from their side also died. The separatists have been suspected but we need to further investigate this case," Mr Basuki told Reuters.
Papuan independence activists have waged a campaign for more than 30 years to break away from Indonesia while a low-level armed rebellion has also simmered for decades. Tensions in the province have risen recently. Last month, four policemen and a soldier were killed during protests demanding the closure of a giant mine by US firm Freeport. Human rights groups have accused the Indonesian military of widespread abuses in Papua.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/11/2006 00:00 ||
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"Tomorrow night, God willing and thanks to imam Reza, a news would reach the Iranian people making everybody happy", Irans mystical President Mahmoud Ahmadi Nezhad promised on Monday.
Speaking to families of martyrs and benevolent people in the holly city of Mash-had, the capital city of the north-eastern Khorasan Razavi province, the President said "after people heard the complete news, they must pray because time for thanksgiving (the Almighty) has arrived", according to the official news agency IRNA. the good news is related to Iran's achievement of uranium enrichment at 3.5 percent.
Though Mr. Ahmadi Nezhad did not revealed the nature of that great news, but informed sources speculated that he might announce the completion by Iranian scientist of the full nuclear cycle by enriching uranium up to 3.5 per cent, which is the required level for non military purposes of nuclear energy.
Earlier, the Iranian internet news service "Irannews" quoted lawmakers as having said that Mr. Ahmadi Nezhad would announce in the coming days that Iran has enriched uranium to 3.5 per cent, "thus opening the doors of the Atomic Club to our country".
The hard line daily "Jomhouri-e Eslami" (Islamic Republic) that belong to Ayatollah Ali Khamenehi said "the good news is related to Iran's achievement of uranium enrichment at 3.5 percent and creating a laboratory platform that will register Iran in the club of nuclear fuel countries".
"Thanks to the resistance and sacrifices of the martyrs families, today enemies cant do a damn thing against us and they knows that, he said, referring to a famous phrase of the leader of the Islamic Revolution Grand Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeiny saying in one of his speeches that "America cant do a damn thing against the Islamic Republic" (amrika hic qalati nemitavanad bekonad).Thanks. I was wondering how that sounds in Farsi.
The announcement, -- in case the speculations are correct --, would come as a response to press reports that the White House is seriously considering the option of a pre-emptive air attack on Irans military and nuclear centres.
"The Bush Administration, while publicly advocating diplomacy in order to stop Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon, has increased clandestine activities inside Iran and intensified planning for a possible major air attack. Current and former American military and intelligence officials said that Air Force planning groups are drawing up lists of targets, and teams of American combat troops have been ordered into Iran, under cover, to collect targeting data and to establish contact with anti-government ethnic-minority groups. The officials say that President Bush is determined to deny the Iranian regime the opportunity to begin a pilot program, planned for this spring, to enrich uranium", wrote the respected investigative journalist Seymour Hersh in the "New Yorker Magazine" to appear on 17 April.
The news, if announced as expected, would also concide with a possible visit to Tehran due this week by the general director of the international nuclear watchdog (IAEA) Mohammad El-Baradei in an effort to persuade the Iranians to comply with the United Nations Security Councils demand from Tehran to halt all nuclear activities.
In its last session, the UNSC called unanimously on Iran to suspend all its atomic activities and gave Mr. El-Baradei one month to report on Tehrans compliance with the demand.
But Tehran responded immediately that it would not bow to a decision that it regards as illegal and would continue with research and development programmes that includes enriching uranium.
"They know that they cant do anything. They (the Security Councils 15 members) have given themselves 30 days. That Iran stops what?. From its right? We are the only country that all our activities are under the surveillance of the IAEA and they lie saying we have faulted. We have a legal right written by them and we progress according to the same laws. If one must be prevented (from nuclear technology) it is they, not us" Mr. Ahmadi Nezhad told a crowd chanting "Death to America. Nuclear technology is our right".
Repeating that Iran was not after nuclear weapons, he nevertheless reiterated that on the nuclear issue, he would not "step back one iota from the right of the Iranian nation".
#1
Well, not good news, but on a wierd sort of level, I have to admire the way the Iranians just smack around the all knowing "gobal intellectual elites" who are always there to defend them. They are RFSP, we all know it, why bother to pretend that they aren't, and they they will still be there to get smacked around again tomorrow no matter what you do to embarass them.
Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that in the coming days he will have some important and good news in the nuclear field. Arriving in the city of Mashad, Ahmadinejad declined to give further details. In Tehran sources say that this imminent announcement has nothing to do with the next meeting of the Security Council of the United Nations which must decide action on the Iranian nuclear dossiers.
Many analysts believe the government is preparing to announce a step forward in uranium enrichment. The Iranian Nuclear Agency, according to information obtained by Adnkronos International (AKI) is preparing to announce new successes in its researchers working on uranium enrichment.
"At Natanz our scientsts have managed to enrich uranium beyond 3.5 percent," he said. An announcement which contradicts with the statements from government officials who insist on the civilian use of its nuclear programme. When used for powering nuclear power plants for civilian use, uranium must be enriched to 3.5 per cent.
According to Wikipedia, highly enriched uranium needs to be > 20% to be weapons-usable, though most uranium bombs are > 85% 235U.
#1
This is exciting, heh. Perhaps AhMad is coming out of the closet?
Good idea to make public announcements, however, since the IAEA (who is on the scene) wouldn't have a clue.
Posted by: Captain America ||
04/11/2006 0:32 Comments ||
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#2
"Beyond 3.5 percent" - iff true, then one can argue that MadMoud wants something to happen this summer. Still comes down to either America + World give the Radicals their nukes and US/World-verified "great nation/power" status, or they're gonna break something, i.e. take the world wid them to hell by wilfully inducing a MAD-style geopol confrontation and conflict amongst the Cold War powers, and on their own nation. THe Radicals and Anarchists, etal. get their power and prestige, or everyone is doomed.
European foreign ministers reviewed options for steps against Iran for the first time on Monday, including possible visa bans and financial sanctions if Tehran presses on with sensitive nuclear activity. European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who drafted a confidential options paper for the 25 ministers, and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw insisted it was just a contingency-planning exercise and sanctions were not imminent. The ministers appealed to Iran in a statement to comply with UN calls to suspend all nuclear enrichment-related activities and reaffirmed their support for a diplomatic solution. It made no mention of possible sanctions. But EU officials said that among steps envisaged in Solana's paper were a travel ban on individuals involved in Iran's nuclear programme, tighter export controls on dual-use technologies, a ban on Iranian students studying sensitive sciences in European universities and, ultimately, a ban on export credit guarantees to companies trading with Iran.
In Iran, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad promised "good news" in the next week on the nuclear programme perhaps, a newspaper said, that Iran had enriched uranium to a level used in power plants. "(Iran) will not step back one iota from the right of the Iranian nation," he told a rally.
Solana who dismissed a media report of increased US planning for a possible air strike on Iran told reporters his plan, details of which were first reported by Britain's Financial Times, was not for immediate sanctions. "What we are doing today is a reflection on what may happen if at the end of the day what is going (on) now in the Security Council does fail," Solana said. "We have plenty of time, but we have to be prepared just in case they fail." Asked if a visa ban on Iranian officials was among the possibilities, he replied: "There are many things, (a) visa ban is a classical type of measure." Britain's Straw told reporters: "We're looking at the issue, but entirely on a contingency basis."
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A decision by the Iranian government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad not to move the clocks ahead at the beginning of spring this year has caused immense problems and irritation for Iranians.
For the first time in 15 years, the government unexpectedly announced that it was not changing to daylight saving time. The reason, said a government spokesman, Gholamhossein Elham, was that the cabinet had concluded that making the change had not led to energy savings in past years.
But to hedge its bets, the government decided that schools and government offices would start their day at 7 a.m. instead of the usual 8 a.m.
Energy experts dispute the cabinet's conclusion, predicting that the decision is going to cost the government $3.3 billion in extra energy costs, the ISNA state press agency reported.
The decision has also caused widespread inconvenience and anger. Many people traveling abroad have missed their flights, confused about what time the planes were actually leaving. Government employees have showed up late at work. Businessmen who work with foreign companies must try to recalculate the time difference. Many parents are having a hard time adjusting their working hours to their children's new school time.
"I used to drop my son at school, go to work, and pick him up at 1:30 when I left my office," said Nassim Aradalan, a dentist and the mother of a 9-year-old. "Our schedule is a mess now. I go to the office one hour early, but I cannot leave an hour early to pick him up at 12:30."
Saeed Leylaz, an economist and political analyst, said the energy cost of not making the change, which the government has brushed off as insignificant, was equal to three days of Iranian oil revenues. "Ahmadinejad just wants to do something different and does not care about its costs and consequences," he said.
The populace is getting a clue. Stalin used to do similar things to assert his power.
The public welfare minister, Parviz Kazemi, said the government had in mind the 20 million Iranian farmers when it decided not to move to daylight saving time.
"They usually start their work with the daylight, and changing the time does not affect their lives," the daily newspaper Shargh quoted him as saying. But opponents of the decision have contended that the government has ignored the benefits of the change for 18 million students and others.
Quite the contrary - this is a hostile move against the urban population who are most likely to oppose Ahmadinejad.
#3
"...schools and government offices would start their day at 7 a.m. instead of the usual 8 a.m."
Don't underestimate Ahmadinejad's wisdom. DST is clearly a Crusader and Zionist plot to attack Islam. Hah...he just changes the schedules to accomodate his decision. He is one crafty SOB!
#4
In other news....Indiana follows Ahmadinejad's lead:
Effective April 2, 2006, Indiana will no longer be counted as one of three states which do not Spring ahead from "standard" to "daylight saving" time or Fall back from daylight to standard six months later. The Indiana Legislature voted to approve Daylight Saving Time for Indiana and to petition the US Department of Transporation to hold hearings to determine the location of the dividing line between the Eastern and Central time zones, relative to Indiana.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Highly classified documents detailing new security measures at Quebec's power corporation Hydro-Quebec were discovered on a bench in an east-end subway station, Radio-Canada reported Sunday. 
anadian soldiers could be charged with war crimes in the International Criminal Court because of an agreement the government approved on the handling of detainees captured in Afghanistan, warns a report to be released today.
LAHORE: Clerics should follow and propagate the Islamic principles of tolerance and restraint, said Punjab Chief Minister 
LAHORE: There is little doubt of the governments involvement in the spread of sectarianism after the rally organised by the 
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Monday that the government was working on a comprehensive plan to tap the tourism potential of the country including simplifying visa and other travel procedures for tourists wanting to visit in the northern areas.
He was talking to Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili sect, who called on him at the Prime Minister House. Aziz said that Pakistan had a lot of potential for tourism and necessary facilities were being made to facilitate tourists. He said plans were underway to offer tourist packages for Gandhara and the northern areas to attract more tourists. Investment and business opportunities in the country were also discussed during the meeting. The PM said that numerous investment opportunities had been created as a result of the government's investor-friendly policies. He referred to the construction of a new airport, which would resume flights to Islamabad.
Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Monday that the government would hold no more talks with Nawab Akbar Bugti to resolve the Balochistan issue. The government will be in control of the troubled areas of the province within a couple of months, the minister told reporters in Parliament House. He said members of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army had been arrested and they had confessed their crimes. 
The Pakistani government defended on Monday a decision to forcibly retire (retrench) an air force officer who refused to trim his beard on religious grounds, Reuters reported. Squadron Leader Mohsin Hayat Ranjha was retired in October and four of his colleagues were grounded for violating a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) dress code that allows trimmed beards, but bars long beards on the grounds they pose a safety risk. "There is no ban on any Pakistan Air Force personnel of any rank keeping a beard, but there has to be a limit to the length of a beard," Tanveer Hussain Syed, parliamentary secretary for defence, told parliament after an MMA legislator raised the issue. 
India and Afghanistan yesterday called on their neighbor Pakistan to join hands in a regional effort to fight terrorism and promote economic cooperation. 
BAGHDAD - Iraqs Sunni leaders Monday rejected incumbent Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafaris candidacy as the next premier, their spokesman said. We have sent a letter to our Shiite brothers explaining that our position remains the same -- that of rejecting Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafaris candidacy, Thafer Al Ani, spokesman of Sunni-led National Concord Front told AFP.
The UN has neither affirmed nor denied a report that first appeared in a New York newspaper that a raid had been carried out on behalf of the UN at 
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas vowed to fight Israeli bid to isolate the Hamas-run government as financial pressure on the beleaguered regime intensified yesterday. As European Union foreign ministers approved a decision to suspend aid to the Palestinian Authority, Abbas called on the international community to end its unfair treatment of his people and instead help them realize their dream of independence. His office revealed that Abbas would embark this month on a tour of Europe and North Africa in a bid to counter Israels own diplomatic offensive which has seen acting Premier Ehud Olmert institute a boycott of any foreign officials who make contacts with Hamas ministers.
A letter from the Hamas-led government referring to a "two-state solution" - a phrase implying acceptance of Israel has become an official UN document despite a disavowal by the Palestinian foreign minister.
The United Nations has not received any retractions or corrections of the letter that 
Four people have been killed in an exchange of fire between soldiers and suspected separatists in Indonesia's remote resource-rich province of Papua, a military spokesman said. Ahmad Yani Basuki, spokesman of the Indonesian armed forces in Jakarta, said the clash erupted when a group of 30 armed men attacked soldiers monitoring a health event in a village some 70 kilometres from the provincial capital Jayapura. "The attackers used A-47 rifles, axes and bows and arrows. Two of our members died while two from their side also died. The separatists have been suspected but we need to further investigate this case," Mr Basuki told Reuters. 
Mashad, Ahmadinejad declined to give further details. In Tehran sources say that this imminent announcement has nothing to do with the next meeting of the Security Council of the United Nations which must decide action on the Iranian nuclear dossiers. 
European foreign ministers reviewed options for steps against Iran for the first time on Monday, including possible visa bans and financial sanctions if Tehran presses on with sensitive nuclear activity. European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who drafted a confidential options paper for the 25 ministers, and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw insisted it was just a contingency-planning exercise and sanctions were not imminent. The ministers appealed to Iran in a statement to comply with UN calls to suspend all nuclear enrichment-related activities and reaffirmed their support for a diplomatic solution. It made no mention of possible sanctions. But EU officials said that among steps envisaged in Solana's paper were a travel ban on individuals involved in Iran's nuclear programme, tighter export controls on dual-use technologies, a ban on Iranian students studying sensitive sciences in European universities and, ultimately, a ban on export credit guarantees to companies trading with Iran. 
