The leaders of the world's eight top industrial democracies also condemned the alleged sinking by North Korea of a South Korean warship and calling on Iran to do more to respect human rights.
The countries the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and Russia added that current tensions in Gaza were "unsustainable."
But the joint statement by the so-called Group of Eight powers did not go as far as some nations, including the United States and Japan, wanted.
The joint statement was released at the end of a meeting in Canada of the eight powers and before a larger group of 20 nations convenes that also includes fast-growing economies like China.
The leaders turned to foreign policy matters after finding themselves at odds on how to continue to spur world economic growth in the aftermath of the worst recession since the 1930s. The countries were divided over whether to continue government stimulus spending, as the United States wants, or to cut mushrooming deficits, as Europe and Japan want.
On the March sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan, the leaders cited an independent report that found that the ship had been sunk by a North Korean torpedo. The leaders said: "We condemn in this context the attack which led to the sinking of the Cheonan."
Japanese officials said that the Russians were the only ones in the G8 to resist tougher language condemning North Korea.
The G8 communique, citing concerns they had raised at last year's summit in Italy, said, "We urge the government of Iran to respect the rule of law and freedom of expression as outlined in the international treaties to which Iran is a party."
On Afghanistan, the joint G8 statement said that a conference in Kabul in July would be an important setting for assessing progress in implementing commitments made in January to train more than 100,000 additional security forces by the end of next year.
The G8 leaders said it was important to accelerate efforts to make sure the country's own security forces can "assume increasing responsibility within five years."
#2
As anyone whos been in Afghanistan knows, recently-cashiered Gen. Stanley McChrystal waged a jihad against fast food and other creature comforts for the troops because getting such luxuries into Afghanistan took up valuable cargo space that could be used for vital equipment.
#4
Read the stones article, it explains why he did it. But then like most of the Yon followers they cant read past a simple blog from that idiot, RB readers are excluded of course.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
06/26/2010 12:35 Comments ||
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#5
His reasons makes as much sense as his airstrike ROE or allowing his staff to let the stones to do a piece on him, good reason, bad reality.
#6
I think the troops are well worth the money and cargo space too give them a slice of home. I;m sure the higher ranking officers have their comfort staples while their like liqour.
Posted by: chris ||
06/26/2010 17:35 Comments ||
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WASHINGTON, June 25 (Yonhap) -- The United States Friday warned North Korea not to escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula with another round of missile tests.
"North Korea should refrain from actions that aggravate tensions," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said in response to North Korea having set no-sail zones in waters near the disputed sea border with South Korea in the Yellow Sea.
"In the past, it has sometimes been followed by missile launches," Crowley said. "We would hate to see North Korea go through with another round of missile launches. Now is the time to take steps to improve relations with its neighbors and cease any provocative behavior."
North Korea has designated no-sail zones in the Yellow Sea in past years before it fired missiles or artillery shells.
The fresh nine-day no-sail zones effective until Sunday come amid escalating tensions after North Korea's torpedoeing of a South Korean warship that killed 46 sailors in March.
"This is certainly not the kind of step that we want to see North Korea take," Crowley said. "We'd rather see them take concrete steps -- irreversible steps -- towards fulfillment of the 2005 Joint Statement; comply with international law, including U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 1874; cease provocative behaviors; and take steps to improve relations with its neighbors. I suspect that further missile launches is not a step in that direction."
Resolutions 1718 and 1874 call for implementation of an overall arms embargo and economic sanctions on North Korea for missile and nuclear tests early last year.
Crowley also reaffirmed the strong U.S. alliance with South Korea on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the start of the 1950-53 Korean War. Crowley lauded South Korea for "a significant achievement in terms of the economic development over these previous decades -- once a recipient of international assistance and now a leading member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and donor in its own right."
"In the 1970s, the GDP of South Korea and North Korea were roughly the same; now there are two compelling stories for dramatically different reasons," he said. "South Korea today is the sixth-largest trading nation in the world. It has the second and third-largest producers of cell phones, for example; the first and second-largest manufacturers of televisions."
Crowley urged North Korea to "look at the exemplary example of development and democracy in South Korea and choose a different course than the one it is currently on."
"There's no difference between the people and the capabilities of the people on both sides of the 30th parallel," he said. "There is a dramatic difference in the responsibility and capability of the respective governments."
About time someone at State did the basics in educating people what the differences are between North and South. Crowley should do this more often.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/26/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
They shoot a missile, we shoot a missile. They stop, we stop.
Seems fair.
All the Norks could manage after that would be easily recognizable as empty bluster.
#3
ION WMF > US IN FEARFUL/NERVOUS SWEAT AS CHINESE PRESIDENT HU JINTAO PROCLAIMS CHINA IS NOW A "GLOBAL MARITIME POWER", INTENT ON DEFENDING ITS INTERESTS + PROJECTING ITS MIL POWER ANYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD, + NO LONGER ONLY A REGIONAL OR LIMITED LAND, NUCLEAR POWER.
* SAME > CHINA INFORMED THE US THAT TWO PLAN STRIKE SUBMARINES [minima]WILL BE KEPT ON PERMANENT ROTATING PATROL IN EASTPAC OFF THE US WEST COAST.
* "ASAHI SHIMBUN" JAPAN MEDIA: CHINA IS BUILDING UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR MISSLE, STORAGE BASES IN MOUNTANIOUS SHANXI + HENAN PROVINCES FOR PREEMPTIVE, OTHER NUCLEAR COUNTER-STRIKE AGZ CHINA'S ENEMIES. CHINA'S RAPID MIL BUILDUP, PLA MODERNIZATION + DESIRE TO ENTER WESTPAC OCEAN AREAS IS CHANGING THE BALANCE OF POWER IN ASIA-PACIFIC AGZ THE US.
* SAME > US-JAPAN "FUTENMA CRISIS" MAY INDUCE THE US TO ONCE AGAIN REALIGN ITS MILITARY FORCES IN EAST ASIA + PACIFIC.
#4
ION INTERFAX > US DIPLOMAT SUGGESTS TRYING TO RE-START/RENEW THE [defunct] CONVENTIONAL ARMS PACT, between the US + Russia.
and
* WAFF > "PUERTO RICO" IN THE BALKANS: USAF IN BULGARIA. POTUS Bammer = USA trying to make Bulgaria into a "51st US State" = PORTO/PUERTO RICO vee escalating mil presence + bilateral cooperation???
* WMF > JAPAN OFFICIALS: SIZE OF CHINA'S NAVY EXCEEDS JAPAN'S SEA POWER.
IOW, JAPAN desires to UP-SIZE + MODERNIZE ITS NAVY, OTHER CONVENTIONAL FORCES, besides desiring it own INDIGENOUS NUCWEAPONS.
"FUTENMA" BASES ISSUE > NOT ONLY OKINAWA-SPECIFIC INDIGENOUS RIGHTS, but also SSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, D *** NG IT, JAPAN'S POST-US RIGHTS TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS, NEW REGIONAL + GLOBAL MIL POWER + INFLUENCE.
#5
I still say we need to sell the old Kitty Hawk to Japan. They'll take it completely apart, install a nuclear reactor, rebuild it and a dozen like it in five years. Not only that, they'll learn to use those carriers effectively against Korea and China, if the need ever comes. If Japan decides it needs nuclear weapons, I'm sure they'll have them within weeks of that decision. They have the knowledge, materials, and the technology - all that's missing is the will. If China provokes them to building nukes, it's China's loss. Thank you, "President" Obumble, for another nice foreign policy mess.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
06/26/2010 14:19 Comments ||
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#6
I suspect the JDF is perfectly aware of how to use carriers.
#7
22DDH rather a full-fledged helicopter carrier than a helicopter destroyer Rumors that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces third aircraft carrying destroyer would mark a major improvement in size and capability over the Hyuga class ships now entering service have been confirmed. The new 22DDH will be 248 meters long and 39 meters in beam, and displace more than 24,000 tons.
That's "Japanese tons". See Yamato and Musashi.
Japanese accounts suggest that one of the reasons for the drastic increase in size of the 22DDH design is a planned shift to the V-22 Osprey as the primary air group element for these ships. It is not clear whether these would be replacements for or supplemental to the SH-60Ks that equip the Hyuga class. These accounts also make it clear that the F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter is seen as a key system for these ships. Apparently, provision for the operation of UAVs is being included within the design.
Posted by: ed ||
06/26/2010 16:26 Comments ||
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#8
but can it fly?
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/26/2010 16:27 Comments ||
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#9
That's the Yamato's job
Posted by: ed ||
06/26/2010 16:30 Comments ||
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#10
I suspect the JDF is perfectly aware of how to use carriers.
SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's ruling party said Saturday it will convene its Political Bureau in early September, a move that suggests the country may officially start the process of power transition.
The session is "for electing its (party's) highest leading body reflecting the new requirements of the WPK (Workers' Party of Korea)," the announcement, carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency, said.
North Korea's top leader, Kim Jong-il, is said to have suffered a stroke last August as his health was deteriorating from other chronic ailments. Intelligence officials believe the youngest of his three sons, Kim Jong-un, is being groomed to succeed him.
Experts say that this year's ruling party meeting is aimed at reshuffling the organization and consolidating Kim Jong-un's position as heir. It will also commemorate the 65th anniversary of the founding of the WPK.
"We are now faced with the sacred revolutionary tasks to develop the WPK ... into an eternal glorious party of Kim Il-sung and further increase its militant function and role to glorify the country as a country prosperous and powerful socialist nation," the announcement said.
This year's session is the first in 44 years since the last gathering was held in 1966. The first meeting of the party was convened in 1958.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/26/2010 00:00 ||
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North Korea's ailing leader Kim Jong-il is speeding up the transfer of power to his son Jong-un, intelligence suggests.
Since the whole World Cup thing didn't work out ...
"There is intelligence information indicating Kim Jong-un accompanied Kim Jong-il on an inspection tour last week to North Pyongan Province," a South Korean government official said Thursday. "One thing that is certain is that posters lauding Jong-un were hung in the factory Kim Jong-il toured."
On Saturday, North Korea's official KCNA news agency broadcast Kim's "on-the-spot-guidance" tour of a factory in Sinuiju showing posters urging North Koreans to "match footsteps" with their leader's "self-sacrifices for CNC." The official said the word "footsteps" has been used since last year only in reference to the succession.
"Footsteps" is also the title of a song praising Kim Jong-un. The song, which was distributed at Kim Jong-il's orders last year, repeatedly uses the phrase "Captain Kim" for Jong-un. And a North Korean film reel depicting Kim Jong-il's birthday celebrations on Feb. 16 shows the North Korean leader at a performance of the song.
"CNC," which stands for "computer numerical control," is also a peculiar code for Kim Jong-un. A Unification Ministry official said the term CNC "is used to convey something new and young and suggests the rise of the new leader Kim Jong-un." North Korea has been touting the importance of cutting-edge technology and has been pushing the widespread implementation of computer-automated production technology. Kim Jong-il's field inspections target factories that have embraced "CNC" technology. "This trend became apparent after Kim Jong-un was tapped as heir last year," the official said. "It is interesting to see North Korea using foreign terminology, which it usually detests."
National Intelligence Service chief Won Sei-hoon told a closed-door National Assembly committee meeting Thursday a large-scale campaign is under way to hail and praise Kim Jong-un. Won added that North Korea has been publicizing songs and poems praising Jong-un and holding poem-recital contests. Kim junior has been accompanying his father on field inspections and widening the scope of his policy reach. Currently in a job with the powerful National Defense Committee, Jong-un has apparently exercised his influence in promoting high-ranking officials at the Workers Party.
The latest moves to consolidate support for Kim Jong-un differ from those seen last year. Kim senior apparently told officials to slow things down last year, even prohibiting performances of the song "Footsteps," after some high-ranking officials appeared overly zealous in their support for his son. For a while, North Korea refrained from sending out information regarding Jong-un, due to fear that playing up the heir "might send out signals that something is wrong with Kim Jong-il's health," according to Dongguk University professor Kim Yong-hyun.
But intelligence officials believe this has all changed. They say it is very unusual to see Kim Jong-il attend a performance on his own birthday praising his son and for posters lauding Jong-un to appear in a factory he is visiting. The intelligence chief said the reason is probably Kim Jong-il's deteriorating health. "The side effects of his stroke, including a limp and paralysis of his left arm, remain," Won said. He added that Kim has started smoking and drinking again, worsening his condition. Another intelligence official said, "With preparations being sped up for the transfer of power, we may soon see Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un sharing power."
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/26/2010 00:00 ||
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Rashad Hussain, America's special envoy to the Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Saudi-based body formed in 1969 to "protect" Jerusalem from the Juices Israelis, announced a new title this week for President Barack Obama. According to Hussain, Obama is America's "Educator-in-Chief on Islam."
And then he's going to show us all how to walk on water, so make sure you have a decent bathing suit in your wardrobe. Be warned, only those males engaged in competitive swimming may wear Speedos.
In his remarks, Hussain also congratulated Obama for sending Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser, to last year's annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America, a notorious front for Saudi-financed Muslim radicalism. Worse, Hussain has now divulged that the U.S. will support the OIC in the latter's United Nations effort to criminalize "defamation of religion" -- widely perceived as a measure to suppress criticism of Muslim practices that violate human rights. "The OIC and the Obama administration will work together in the UN on the issue of defamation of religion, especially in Europe," said Hussain.
Especially in Europe? Why there, particularly?
He had previously said, at the above-mentioned April "post-Cairo" conference, that the U.S. would work with the OIC to defend the Muslim head-scarf against prohibitions on its display in schools and governmental offices -- a measure common to secular France and now Islamist-ruled, but still legally-secular Turkey, as well as Muslim-majority Tunisia and Kosovo.
That's really not our business. On the other hand, every moment President Obama and his people spend worrying about hijabs and naqibs in France and elsewhere in Europe, where their input will be stonily disregarded, is time their brainpower -- such as it is -- will not be engaged on matters they can actually impact. Not to mention that the next president will earn goodwill in the same quarters simply by not raising such issues.
Posted by: ed ||
06/26/2010 00:00 ||
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The current US administration officially supports/demands the imposition of Sharia restrictions on non-Muslims in Europe.
The current US administration implicitly endorses and/or justifies the murder of Van Gogh, the threats, attacks and legal terror campaign (instigated by e.g. Jordan) against Danish cartoonists and other critics of Islam in Europe.
The current US administration has joined the Erdogan regime in demanding an end to western democracy, human rights and civil rights in Europe.
We find ourselves in the sad position of agreeing with you, Thraing Bourbon5916. Let us hope the elections in November impose some changes on America's executive thereafter...
#4
If the Obama administration was actually sincere about this then Obama himself would propose, endorse and lobby for a constitutional amendment clarifying that the 1st Amendment shall not be construed to permit "defamation of religion."
Why isn't that happening?
The passage of such an amendment would create good will among the world's Muslims and make US and NATO troops safer.
The United States ambassador to Turkey, meanwhile, released a statement earlier this week that America supports Turkey's efforts to clamp down on Kurdish resistance fighters and is ready to "urgently" consider any new request for help from Ankara. "We stand ready to review urgently any new requests from the Turkish military or government regarding the PKK," Ambassador James Jeffrey said in a written statement on Monday.
"The PKK is a common enemy of both Turkey and the U.S. and we actively support the efforts of our Turkish allies to defeat this terrorist threat," Jeffrey said, stressing that "there has been no change in the level of U.S.-Turkey intelligence sharing regarding the PKK in northern Iraq."
The United States has reportedly been supplying Turkey, a NATO ally, with intelligence on rebel movements in northern Iraq, used particularly in Turkish air raids on PKK hideouts and Kurdish civilian areas in the region.
It's still unclear whether President Obama had made up his mind before sitting down Wednesday with Gen. Stanley McChrystal, but CNN has learned that during their one-on-one meeting, Obama gave the general a chance to defend himself. Still unclear? Well, if you say so.
"The president asked him about the article," said a senior administration official, referring to a Rolling Stone magazine article containing comments from McChrystal and his staff that appear to mock top civilian officials, including the vice president.
"He [McChrystal] tried to explain the situation," the official said. He must have failed.
That senior administration official, who briefed reporters, gave this backstory:
Once Obama accepted McChrystal's resignation, he wasted no time finding his replacement. After McChrystal walked out of the White House following his 30 minute face-to-face meeting with the president, the president immediately huddled with a team of advisors to decide who would replace McChrystal. Bwahaha! And I believe Kimmie can get several holes-in-one in an 18-hole round of golf!
That group included Vice President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, National Security Advisor Jim Jones and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. For 45 minutes, they mulled over the president's options. Long enough for plausible deniability, I suppose.
The White House earlier had asked for a list of possible replacements for McChrystal in the event the president replaced him. Gen. David Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command, was one of those considered. Don't know your geneals?
The president chose Petraeus. There is a continuity -- Petraeus is familiar with all the players in the region and he is familiar to NATO partners.
Then Obama called Petraeus, who was already in the White House Situation Room, into the Oval Office to ask him to take over the mission in Afghanistan. The meeting lasted for 40 minutes, and Petraeus agreed. Oh, what a happy coincidence.
The senior administration official said despite the fact that Petraeus was asked to give up Central Command, he did not consider it a demotion. Obama acknowledged the move was not "the normal course" for a top general to go from being in charge of Central Command to taking command in Afghanistan. The president also acknowledged it was "a sacrifice for Petraeus." And another opening for Obama to take advantage of. Why not stick Biden in there?
The commander in chief then went to the Situation Room, where his national security team was waiting. The senior administration official described the president as "stern" as he walked the team through his decision. Stern? He must be in control of the situation.
The official said the president told everyone "we need to remember why we're doing this." Oh yeah, we forgot.
Obama went on to explain that it was understandable to have disagreements or tensions within his security team, but when those disagreements turned petty, that did not serve the men and women fighting for the mission. Like our ROEs don't serve them?
The president expressed "regret" and "sorrow", saying that, "this was a sad day," the senior administration official said. Boo hoo hoo. Yada yada yada.
Then Obama wrapped up the meeting, and called Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai to explain his decision. McChrystal and Karzai had been close, according to administration and Pentagon officials.
The president then went to the Rose Garden to face the cameras and announce his decision to the American people.
Since then, according to White House spokesman Tommy Vietor, Obama has talked to British Prime Minister David Cameron, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Sens. Harry Reid, Carl Levin, and John McCain. He is urging the Senate to follow his lead and to quickly confirm his nominee. Well, you managed to pick a good one despite what you had to say about him before. I wonder what MoveOn will have to say about this decision. Not.
#1
It's hard for the WH to not make decisions, when there is nobody to not make decisions to. But with the demotion of Petraeus, now they can return to their comfortable place of not making decisions again.
#3
Petraeus had an ethical decision to make. Tell Zero to pound sand or tell Zero he will take the job if he allows the ROE to go back, thus taking care of the troops.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
06/26/2010 12:39 Comments ||
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#4
Would've been sweet, #2. But then, the kenyan komrad & krew would have pulled Ashley Wilkes out of RET to call the shots during this, the ultimate, March of Folly.
It was 2:30 Tuesday morning in Kabul when Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal was awakened by an aide with grim news. "There's a Rolling Stone article out," the aide told McChrystal. "It's very, very bad."
Forty hours later, McChrystal had been relieved of his command, his 34-year military career in tatters. Apart from a terse apology, McChrystal has not discussed publicly the disparaging remarks that he and his aides made about administration officials and that appeared in the article.
On Friday, however, officials close to McChrystal began trying to salvage his reputation by asserting that the author, Michael Hastings, quoted the general and his staff in conversations that he was allowed to witness but not report. The officials also challenged a statement by Rolling Stone's executive editor that the magazine had thoroughly reviewed the story with McChrystal's staff ahead of publication.
The executive editor, Eric Bates, denied that Hastings violated any ground rules when he wrote about the four weeks he spent, on and off, with McChrystal and his team. "A lot of things were said off the record that we didn't use," Bates said in an interview. Ya. Lotsa stuff. Three weeks six days 23 hours worth. All the boring stuff.
"We abided by all the ground rules in every instance." Who ya gonna trust, the General or a joke of a left-wing rag?
A U.S. military spokesman in Kabul, Air Force Lt. Col. Edward T. Sholtis, acknowledged that Hastings, like other reporters who have interviewed McChrystal over the past year, was not required to sign written ground rules. "We typically manage ground rules on a verbal basis," Sholtis said. "We trust in the professionalism of the people we're working with." Well, there ya go! End of story! Why would they do that?
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/26/2010 11:09 ||
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#1
Did it ever occur to anyone that maybe McChrystal wanted to get fired? For whatever reason? Or is it standard MO for generals to take actions without having any idea of the likely result?
Politicians who are not generals should only be able to point and say "attack" along with a few common sense conditions. Politicians coming up with ROEs makes about as much sense as Kimmie giving in-depth field guidance to his soccer team.
The parents of Army soldier Benjamin Osborn said Thursday that U.S. Bill and Beverly Osborn say that new military rules of engagement are making soldiers on the ground more vulnerable to attack, including they say, in the final battle that took their son's life.
"They were ambushed they were under attack and they couldn't fire until they were ordered to do so," Ben's father Bill Osborn said.
Wearing black armbands, a gold star pin, and grief fresh from burying their son, Bill and Beverly Osborn are speaking out about the circumstances of their son's death.
"Ben said that the tactics were wrong. There's one long road to bring supplies in. The Taliban's up there shooting down at them and they have to shoot up," Beverly Osborn said.
It comes as the family welcomed friends to a celebration of Ben's life, with his wife of only five months comforted at the event.
But amid their grief, his parents also questioned whether new military rules of engagement put their son's unit at risk, by restricting use of firepower and the ability to call for backup, a strategy designed to minimize civilian casualties.
"The rules of engagement have put our son at risk and everyone that's over there," Bill Osborn said.
"They are laughing at us. The Taliban is laughing at us," said Beverly Osborn.
The Osborns support General Stanley McChrystal, who was just forced to resign after openly criticizing the Administration's strategy. Instead, these parents laid blame at the President's feet.
"I think he's the wrong man for the wrong job at the time, and I think he has things backwards I think that it's a kind of a touchy feely approach to war and it doesn't work," Bill Osborn said.
"We have to win the war first. The only way to do that is to have someone in charge who's a warrior, not a flower child," Beverly Osborn said.
They were grief-stricken but determined to push for change, as a community said goodbye to a native son.
The Osborns planned to write to New York's U.S. Senators and to General David Petraeus, now the top commander of the conflict, to call for a take charge strategy that they said will give other servicemen and woman a better chance to win the war.
#1
"The rules of engagement have put our son at risk and everyone that's over there," Bill Osborn said. "They are laughing at us. The Taliban is laughing at us," said Beverly Osborn.
The Osborns support General Stanley McChrystal, who was just forced to resign after openly criticizing the Administration's strategy. Instead, these parents laid blame at the President's feet. "I think he's the wrong man for the wrong job at the time, and I think he has things backwards I think that it's a kind of a touchy feely approach to war and it doesn't work," Bill Osborn said. "We have to win the war first. The only way to do that is to have someone in charge who's a warrior, not a flower child," Beverly Osborn said.
Our military is suffering under the current CIC. Sounds like McChrystal had a lot to deal with. I don't know whether or not it will do any good but each of us can write to our Congressman if they are not a dipwad and actually listen to constituents.
#2
A couple of other things one could do is to pen a letter to the editor in your local newspaper regarding these issues. Circulate the story to friends via email. Sites such as Rantburg are also a good avenue for expressing reasoned debate and opinions.
At least 11 of the 17 members of the Afghan military who went AWOL from an Air Force base in Texas and are considered deserters by their nation have turned up in the exact place you'd expect to find them in the year 2010.
They're on Facebook.
And, by the look of things, they're not unlike millions of other young men on the social networking site. One proclaims to be a fan of Paris Hilton and is a member of a group named "FREE Webcam Sex with ME!" Another is a fan of hip hop music, Michael Jackson, the tearjerker movie The Notebook, Family Guy and Sports Center. Another is a fan of soccer and the Godfather.
Continued on Page 49
In a chilling disclosure with serious ramifications for India, Pakistan and the international community, 26/11 accused David Coleman Headley told the National Investigation Agency (NIA) earlier this month that Lashkar-e-Taiba and ISI are virtually inseparable as far as the pan-Islamic terror agenda is concerned.
Home minister P Chidambaram used the NIA dossier detailing Headley's disclosures to drive home the point that stringent measures are needed against terrorist groups operating with impunity from Pakistani soil.
The NIA dossier, which establishes the virtual closing of ranks between LeT and ISI, clearly indicates that both are acting independently of the government and pose a threat to Pakistan's governance.
It took two days of persuasion for Headley to waive his right to silence under US law and detail every meeting he had with his LeT handlers, including Hafiz Saeed and Sajid Mir, and ISI officials in Muzzaffarabad and Lahore before the 26/11 attacks.
Sources said that Headley told the NIA team comprising Loknath Behera, Swayamprakash Pani, Sajid Shapoo and special prosecutor Dayan Krishnan that his reconnaissance missions and its results were closely and jointly monitored by LeT and ISI before he received fresh instructions. The 11th dossier, which India handed over to Pakistan on June 18, contained every statement by Headley, who spoke for seven to eight hours every day, continuously for eight days.
Questioning only stopped for lunch, tea and loo breaks. Sources said Headley agreed to answer every question posed by the NIA once he was assured no magistrate was on the team because that would have made his remarks akin to a confession admissible in Indian courts.
Headley's remarks would have been tantamout to a commission recorded under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code making it admissible evidence before Indian courts, but the NIA had assured him no magistrate was on the team.
Headley broke into Hindi several times while answering questions, taking by surprise the three US federal attorneys, two lawyers of Headley and the five sleuths from FBI who were present everyday. These were translated for their benefit but it was a difficult task to get a proper translation of the crude jokes Headley cracked.
Points raised by Headley also surfaced in the bilateral talks Chidambaram had with Rehman Malik on Friday. Though Pakistan promised to act on details and verify what even FBI shared with it, India does not seem to have any option right now except wait. Malik, however. said Pakistan wouldn't stand in the way of a full probe.
ISLAMABAD: India on Friday asked Pakistan to prosecute the perpetrators of the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram who arrived in Islamabad on Friday to attend the SAARC Interior Minister's Conference going to be held today (Saturday) met with his Pakistani counterpart, Rehman Malik, soon after his arrival. Both the leaders discussed issues related to terrorism, the ongoing investigations into the Mumbai attacks and other matters of mutual interest.
Sources said the Indian home minister asked Malik to take action against those involved in the Mumbai attacks. Chidambaram also raised questions over the free movement of Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.
According to the sources, Malik told Chidambaram that the judiciary in Pakistan was independent and India should have confidence in it.
Both men then laughed, and Malik continued.
Both the leaders also discussed the agenda of the SAARC conference in which counterterrorism strategy was on the top of the agenda. The two leaders also talked about trust-building measures between the two countries.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Interior Minister Malik said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere.
Talks were held in a very good atmosphere and good topics were discussed. I can only say that there is a good message for the people of Pakistan and India, that there has been a very good beginning,' Malik said.
Malik told reporters that he would share with his Indian counterpart credible evidence' Pakistan had collected against Mumbai suspects.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/26/2010 00:09 ||
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ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday called upon the bureaucracy to stay away from politics and use its skills acquired during various trainings courses to address the problems of the people expeditiously.
I can't believe he really says stuff like this, but then he says all sorts of other stupid stuff, like "The whole nation is against terrorism."
Addressing the graduation ceremony of the 92nd National Management Course at the Presidency, Zardari asked the officers to stay away from politics, but make efforts to understand the dynamics of the country's politics.
"Being president is for guys like me, made men who are big heat, not for you little people!"
The president congratulated the participants on successful completion of their respective courses, saying nation building required years of hard work and human resources. The president said, being a permanent institution of the state, the bureaucracy needed to demonstrate the will and the ability to manage change, while maintaining continuity in policy where it needed to be sustained.
He urged the participants to thoroughly analyse various issues concerning the nation and reflect why various governments failed to give due attention to the economy and issues like education, health, water management, energy security, poverty reduction and employment generation.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/26/2010 00:06 ||
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NEW DELHI: India agreed on Friday to release four detained Pakistani nationals on the eve of talks in Islamabad between the interior ministers of the two countries, a government statement said. Home Minister P Chidambaram as a gesture of goodwill approved the release of the four Pakistani nationals imprisoned in the western Indian state of Gujarat.
These prisoners will be repatriated from the Attari border on June 30 and handed over to the Pakistan Rangers,' the Home Ministry said.
Chidambaram reached Pakistan on Friday to attend the conference of interior ministers of the eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) today (Saturday). The Indian minister is to meet Interior Minister Rehman Malik on the sidelines of the event.
Pakistan also freed 17 Indian prisoners earlier this week as a goodwill gesture ahead of a meeting between top foreign ministry officials from the two countries on Thursday.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/26/2010 00:04 ||
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BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: An important meeting will be held between Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Head of al-Iraqiya bloc Iyad Allawi next week, a leading fugue of Dawlat al-Qanoon (State of Law) list said on Friday.
"The important meeting will tackle a number of crucial issues," Ali al-Dabbagh told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. He did not reveal more details.
"I will say no more!"
The political scene in Iraq is now witnessing an intensive dynamics a few days after convening the new 325-seat parliament's first session on June 14. The session was confined to ceremonial oath-taking procedures due to the blocs' failure to reach consensus over naming their candidates for the three top posts in the state: a president, a prime minister and speaker of parliament.
The disputes come amidst heated competition between the two largest blocs to form a government as the Iraqi National Alliance (INA), which won 159 seats, seeks winning the prime minister post while al-Iraqiya bloc of former Iraqi premier Iyad Allawi (91 seats) insists on retaining its constitutional right to form a government as it had been the bloc that won the largest number of seats in the March 7 legislative elections.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/26/2010 00:00 ||
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JERUSALEM - Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has invited his Italian counterpart to lead a delegation of European foreign ministers to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, an Israeli official said on Thursday.
The catch is that they have to stay ...
Israel has largely refused to let foreign diplomats pass through its checkpoints into Gaza since it tightened its blockade on the territory after Hamas Islamists seized it in 2007.
The official said Lieberman extended the invitation to Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini during a visit to Italy so that top European diplomats could see there was no humanitarian crisis in the coastal enclave.
The delegation could come within weeks but would not meet Hamas officials, the Israeli official added.
Lieberman asked Frattini to lead the trip, which will also include a visit to Israeli towns along the Gaza border that have been frequent targets of Palestinian rocket fire, because of Italy's close relationship with Israel, the official said.
Nice, force the Euros to confront the mortars and rockets. Perhaps Hamas or Islamic Jihad would be kind enough to arrange a demonstration while the diplomats are in Sderot?
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/26/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
they can come in from a tunnel in Egypt
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/26/2010 10:15 Comments ||
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#2
The Dipolmatic Tunnel? The one re-enforced with genuine wood made from trees?
Three house maids arrested recently in Surabaya for stealing may be part of a large money- raising racket set up by terrorist groups, police say.
Police said that three women working as domestic maids, all with connections to a Central Java terror cell, had stolen items belonging to their employers in separate incidents in Surabaya, Malang (East Java) and Yogyakarta, on June 20 and June 23. The three were identified as Siti Fatonah, 24, from Sragen in Central Java, and siblings Darwati, alias Nanik, 28, and Mutmainah, alias Nur/Ayu, 25, from Grobogan in Central Java.
Police confiscated from the three suspects a number of documents describing the women's oaths to two organizations - the Indonesian Muslim Women's Military and the Indonesian Islamic State, South Surabaya Police detectives unit chief Adj. Comr. Roni Purwahyudi said. "The three suspects confessed they had promised a man with the initials SR in Yogyakarta that they would steal to protect mujaheed fighters and that they were willing to join a jihad in the name of God," Roni told The Jakarta Post on Friday. Roni said the police would continue to study the documents. He also said the three suspects had denied they had given SR money.
His team is currently coordinating with the Central Java Police and the police's Detachment 88 anti-terror unit to question terror suspects arrested in a raid in Klaten, Central Java, on Wednesday. In the raid, Detachment 88 arrested three terror suspects, including most-wanted Abdullah Sunata, and killed another terror suspect named Yuli Karsono.
"We strongly believe the terror group in Central Java has altered their fund-raising methods in that they are no longer resorting to robberies, but have recruited a number of women to assist in their activities," Roni said.
In 2002, Andri Octavia was handed down a 16-year jail sentence for his involvement in a jewellery shop robbery in Banten, the proceeds from which reportedly were used to finance the Oct. 12, 2002, Bali bombing. Hiring women to steal money to fund their cause would mark a significant change in the strategy of domestic terrorists.
The Surabaya arrest came after a series robberies in Surabaya. A resident in Kupang, Gunung Timur, Surabaya, on May 22, claimed 1 kilogram of gold jewellery and Rp 125 million (about US$12,500) in cash had been stolen from him. A few days later, a businessman in Surabaya told police Rp 1 billion in cash and Rp 1 billion worth of gold bullion had been stolen from the safe at his home. As the case developed, the police uncovered a string of burglaries in Surabaya, Malang and other cities in East Java that each stole at least Rp 50 million.
"The suspects went from door to door offering their services as house maids. After being hired and stealing money and valuables, they abandoned their job without notifying their employers," Roni said. Police believe the syndicate involved more than 10 people and is operating in other provinces in Indonesia.
National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said police in Batam, Riau Islands, were still on high alert for more terrorist activity following the Sunata arrest. "We are still paying extra attention to a number of terror groups. There are several of them, but I cannot disclose their numbers," Bambang said on the sidelines of the opening of the Lancang Kuning hall at the Riau Islands Police headquarters in Batam.
Separately, the police said they were reconsidering the effectiveness of rehabilitation centers following reports that several released terrorist convicts had rejoined terrorist groups. "We are going to conduct a thorough evaluation - find out whether their persistence in following terrorist activities is really attributable to the failure of the current rehab programs or something else," National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Edward Aritonang told a press conference in Jakarta on Friday, adding that the police would cooperate with the directorate general of penitentiaries on the matter.
#2
No blood or shooting involved, ryuge, which makes it Page 2: WoT Politix. Not to mention a heads-up to those with Indonesian/Malaysian maids, to re-check their background very carefully. Normally one only consults friends who've used the same agency, to see if they've had any problems with the agency, and trusts that the women themselves will not be a problem.
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.
