[Tolo News] Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called for restriction in Unama's mission in Afghanistan in a proposal to UN Chief.
The ministry has presented ten articles requesting the United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society Secretary General the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon to set Unama's mission for this year based on the proposal.
The proposal highlights the important role that Unama could play in security transition to Afghan lead.
It suggests offices of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan should be limited to six zones.
While hailing Unama's aid to Afghanistan, officials in foreign ministry see restriction of Unama's mission vital as the country is on the threshold of beginning security transition to Afghan cops.
"We hope the discussions work, but in the next six months we should hold our main talks so that the review takes place. When tasks of the Unama are set this year, we should even consider it more seriously," Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmai Rasoul said.
Mr Rasoul said all participants in the International Contact Group Conference in Jeddah declared their support to Afghan-led grinding of the peace processor.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/09/2011 00:00 ||
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(Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Caped PresidentHamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai ... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabanni in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtun face on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use... on Tuesday put pre-conditions for having strategic relations with the United States and one of them is to ensure durable peace in the militancy-plagued country.
"For having strategic relations with the United States we have pre-conditions and the first pre-condition is to bring about security in Afghanistan," the president stated in his speech to mark the International Women's Day in a ceremony attended by hundreds of women and men including government officials.
He thanked the international community particularly the United States for its contribution in the rebuilding process of Afghanistan over the past 10 years, but added Afghanistan does not have stable security.
The other pre-conditions for having strategic relations with the United States include disbanding private security firms and the civilian-military Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs), Karzai said, adding these institutions as parallel bodies to government undermine the progress and development in Afghanistan.
There are 27 PRTs from the United States and its allied nations serving within the framework of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The civilian-military units are involved in both strengthening security and reconstruction activities in the war-ravaged nation.
In case of having strategic relations, the president said that Afghanistan would keep on balanced relations with other nations and allays the possible concerns of the neighbors.
Nevertheless, the president emphasized that Afghan nation would take final decision with regard to inking strategic relations with the United States.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/09/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Karzai is survival oriented. He knows what the American congress did to the South Vietnamese, as memories of betrayal are long in Asia. He also knows that a lot of American politicians would be more than happy to hang him out to dry.
[Tolo News] Afghan women's rights will never be sacrificed in peace talks with the Taliban, President Karzai said speaking at women's day ceremony on Tuesday.
During his speech the President pointed out to mounting violence against women and urged religious leaders to help reduce the violence.
President Karzai said women protection centres will never be closed, but funding to safe houses should be channeled through finance ministry.
"I want to assure you all that our constitutional achievements, our gains towards promotion and our gains in terms of Afghan women will not be hurt or blunted, but these gains will be even strengthened to bring peace to Afghanistan," Karzai said.
Presently, there are twelve safe houses for women functioning in Afghanistan to provide shelter to victims of violence. The houses are funded by international and national organisations.
the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon's special representative to Afghanistan Staffan de Mistura, who was also participating in the ceremony, said women's rights will never be ignored in peace discussions with the Taliban.
"There are certain achievements of the democracy and frankly of human rights ... which are not the same thing as individual rights, mind you... in Afghanistan that cannot be lost. The Afghans will not want to do that. Any type of peace discussion needs will and needs to take place now, because there is no military solution, but cannot sacrifice what is really being achieved for the women in Afghanistan," Mr De Mistura said.
"I have heard many messages that the Taliban themselves, who are Afghans, have learnt a lot of lessons from the past and are today I hope understanding that the Afghan women need to be part of the future of this country," De Mistura further said.
President Karzai used the ceremony to call on the Taliban to stop civilian killings.
The Taliban have grabbed credit for recent deadly attacks that caused the deaths of hundreds of civilians, but President Karzai pointing out to Jalalabad Kabul Bank raid said if the Taliban are not involved in the incident, they should make it clear without any fear.
Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... Maria Bashir, an Afghan woman
That seems an odd Christian name for an Afghan woman...
working in judiciary system in Herat, has been announced as the winner of "International Courage Award" by the United States.
Maria Bashir and nine other Afghan women are expected to receive the award from the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. ... sometimes described as the Smartest Woman in the World and at other times as Mrs. Bill, never as Another George C. Marshall ...
Posted by: Fred ||
03/09/2011 00:00 ||
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"Womens Rights Will Never be Sacrificed in Peace Talks: Karzai"
And then his nose grew 2 feet and his lips fell off.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
03/09/2011 20:53 Comments ||
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[Tolo News] Establishment of US permanent bases in Afghanistan is not in the interest of the region, Iranian Interior Minister Mustafa Mohammad Najjar said on Tuesday.
"Five Islamic countries are against the bases. Arrival of foreign forces in the region, their presence and their bases are not in the interest of our government and our nation. Foreign forces brought insecurity and Death Eaters to the region with themselves," Mustafa Mohammad Najjar said.
Hours after the Iranian Interior Minister landed in Kabul, he appeared at a joint presser with his Afghan counterpart.
The conference was held mainly about an agreement to be sealed between the two nations on cooperation in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, but the Iranian minister faced with tough questions from news hounds.
Most of the questions were focused on allegations made by Nato officials about Iran's role in insurgency in Afghanistan, but Mr Najjar dismissed the allegation.
"They shout slogans about human rights ... which are not the same thing as individual rights, mind you... , but they act against it. We cannot believe whatever they say, if there is something, they should prove it," Mr Najjar said.
Afghan Interior Minister Bismeullah Mohammadi said during the joint presser: "We have no evidence to prove Islamic Theocratic Republic of Iran's involvement in insecurity in Afghanistan. Iran has always helped Afghanistan in terms of security and reconstruction."
Iran has long been criticised by Afghan and foreign officials over fueling gunnies in Afghanistan, but Iranian interior minister said there is no evidence proving Iran's involvement in Afghan crisis.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/09/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Dear Iran:
This is an Afghan matter, not an Iranian matter.
Unless you would like us to come over and meddle in your affairs, of course.
[The Nation (Nairobi)] A piracy case has been referred to the High Court for directions on whether magistrates' courts have jurisdiction over the matter.
Senior resident magistrate Timothy ole Tanchu made the decision following an application by four suspected Somali pirates, who said that the court did not have jurisdiction to try them.
There are seven piracy cases before magistrates which have failed to proceed following last year's High Court ruling that Kenyan courts did not have jurisdiction to try piracy cases.
The ruling by Justice Mohammed Ibrahim was in reference to piracy under Section 69 (1) of the Penal Code, which the accused in the seven cases have been charged under.
The section has been replaced by the Merchant Shipping Act and some suspected Somali pirates have been charged under this law.
In their application, Abdirahman Isse, Mohamed Osman, Feisal Abdi and Noor Ali through lawyer Jared Magolo said that according to the Merchant Shipping Act, which they have been charged under, only the High Court is recognised so the lower courts have been denied jurisdiction.
In 2009, the High Court had declared that Kenyan courts had jurisdiction to try suspected pirates nabbed outside the country's territorial waters.
Mr Ole Tanchu noted that the decisions of the High Court concerning jurisdiction touched on Section 69 of the Penal Code while the case before him was under the Merchant Shipping Act.
"Where there are conflicting decisions, it's up to the court to decide which decision to follow," said senior state counsel Alexander Muteti while opposing the application by the four suspected pirates.
The magistrate, while delivering the ruling said that the procedure to refer the matter to the High Court was not provided for and the claim by the defence that the court had no jurisdiction to refer the matter was not tenable.
The four have been charged that, allegedly with others not before the court and while armed with AK-47 rifles, a pistol and a rocket propelled grenade, they attacked a fishing dhow called Sherry Fishing Dhow.
They are said to have used violence against the crew by firing at them using a rifle and a pistol.
The offence is alleged to have been committed on September 20, last year, on the high seas of the Indian Ocean.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/09/2011 00:00 ||
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#2
Ahh, Feb 3, back when it was all Jasmine and Peace.
I give points to the guy with the pot on his head, dust mask & fabric chinstrap. He also has some sort of harness under the pot, and what might be a working ding upper-left.
[Ennahar] A convoy of trucks from the U.N. food agency should reach Libya's rebel-held port of Benghazi on Tuesday to deliver the first food aid inside the country since a revolt erupted three weeks ago, the agency said.
Because of fighting between forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Qadaffy ... an Arab institution for 42 years ...
and rebels opposed to his four-decade rule, U.N. aid had so far concentrated on refugees fleeing to Libya's borders with Tunisia and Egypt.
The World Food Program (WFP) said in a statement a convoy carrying 70 metric tons of high-energy date bars crossed the Egyptian border overnight on its way to the eastern port.
"This would be the first delivery of food assistance from a U.N. agency to enter the country," it said.
A shipment of wheat flour which turned back from Benghazi last Thursday amid security concerns set sail for Libya again on Tuesday, it added.
U.N. aid coordinator Valerie Amos said Monday fighting across Libya meant that more than a million people fleeing or inside the country needed humanitarian aid
Posted by: Fred ||
03/09/2011 00:00 ||
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And may God help the Libyans - the Vampire Vulture Elite is coming. Quick - hide the underage kids.
[The Nation (Nairobi)] Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir Head of the National Congress Party. He came to power in 1989 when he, as a brigadier in the Sudanese army, led a group of officers in a bloodless military coup that ousted the government of Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi and eventually appointed himself president. Omar's peculiar talent lies in starting conflict. He has fallen out with his Islamic mentor, Hasan al-Turabi, tried to impose shariah on the Christian and animist south, resulting in its imminent secessesion, and attempted to Arabize Darfur by unleashing the barbaric Janjaweed on it. Sudan's potential prosperity has been pissed away in warfare that has left as many as 400,000 people dead and 2.5 million displaced. Omar has been indicted for genocide by the International Criminal Court but nothing is expected to come of it. arrived in Cairo on Tuesday, an airport source told AFP, marking the first visit to post-Mubarak Egypt by an Arab head of state.
The official Sudanese news agency SUNA said Monday that Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court ... where Milosevich died of old age before being convicted ... , would meet with Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who heads the country's ruling military council.
Egypt, which is not a signatory to the ICC, has been a key ally for the Sudanese president, who has visited the country numerous times since he was indicted by the ICC for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
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03/09/2011 00:00 ||
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[Arab News] The Shoura Council stressed on Monday the importance of security in the Kingdom and requested citizens not to be misled by people who try to insinuate activities against the country and religion.
"Every citizen should cooperate with the concerned authorities to maintain security and stability throughout the Kingdom," Shoura Council Chairman Abdullah Al-Asheikh said on Monday. He requested people not to pay attention to the claims of people who try to disrupt normality by organizing demonstrations, processions and sit-in protests that are against law.
"The cultural and traditional values of the Kingdom must be respected at all costs," the chairman said, adding that these values are cherished and nurtured by the Kingdom's leadership, which is firmly based on Islamic law.
Endorsing the statements made by Islamic scholars who have condemned any form of demonstrations in the Kingdom, Al-Asheikh told citizens to be guided according to the principles of the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah. He also warned people not to fall prey to deviant people who do not know the basic values of Islam. He also stressed that the decision of Islamic scholars is based on the Book of Allah and the traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
He said that the Kingdom maintains an open-door policy in which citizens are allowed to express their opinions directly to the leadership or to the concerned parties to redress their grievances.
He also made a special request to the officials of the public sector to cooperate with the leadership in implementing social and economic reforms. "Providing employment opportunities and granting housing loans should be passed onto the beneficiaries without any undue delay," he said.
He also prayed to Almighty Allah to help preserve the pristine glory of Islam, maintain security in the country and help its leader King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan, minister of defense and aviation, to take the Kingdom to greater heights.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/09/2011 00:00 ||
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Any airburst nuclear weapon is an EMP bomb, but most of the EMP effect is a cone directly beneath the airburst. So the more effective EMP, the higher up it is, up to a point.
That is why the typical example of an EMP detonation over the US is high altitude over Kansas, so the cone would be wide enough at its base to hit most of the US.
N.B.: EMP weapons are much less effective against military weapons, which are often shielded, or that have spare parts inside metal boxes that protect them.
You're right as far as it goes, but keep in mind that since the power of an EMP burst is a function of altitude and weapon strength the Nork weapons seen so far would actually do little serious damage to us. Now, there are conventional EMP weapons that have very short range and blast power, and they've been used successfully - but one of these with enough oomph to do the job would be the size of a supertanker.
The one other thing the Norks seem to have forgotten is that the B-1 and B-2 fleets, along with Trident and Minuteman, do quite nicely without any GPS at all, especially the aircraft. A strike of that nature would be considered a strategic nuclear attack, and be answered accordingly.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
03/09/2011 13:40 Comments ||
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#4
A couple points:
You don't need nukes for an EMP bomb. You can create a magnetic field and squeeze it with conventional explosives.
High over Kansas may be the ideal location for strategic use, but I suspect setting one off on top of a parking garage would mess up a good chunk of a city.
The Norks are already up to their ears in the illegal arms business. An EMP bomb would bring in a big pile of hard currency. Who might want one is left as an exercise to the reader.
#6
A strike of that nature would be considered a strategic nuclear attack, and be answered accordingly.
If the POTUS decides handwringing is an appropriate and sufficient answer then handwringing it will be.
The Taliban are being forgiven for 9/11 so why shouldn't the NORKS take their chance? If there should be any doubt, however unreasonable, re the origin of an attack they will have nothing to fear.
SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- North Korea can send officials to South Korea, if it wants, to confirm whether some of its nationals stranded here are actually willing to defect, a senior official at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters on the condition of anonymity, however, the official voiced objections to the North's demand that they meet their families in the North and directly deliver their opinions.
"They may be blackmailed or put under duress," the official said. "Instead, it would be possible for North Korean officials to come down to South Korea if they want to confirm (the would-be defectors' decisions) on their own."
The two Koreas, already locked in heightened military tensions, have been at odds over the repatriation of 31 North Koreans -- 11 men and 20 women -- who strayed across the Yellow Sea border into South Korean waters last month. Of them, 27 expressed their wish to return home while the remaining four wished to defect, South Korean authorities said after weeks of questioning.
The Cheong Wa Dae official said the United Nations Command that oversees the truce, which effectively ended the Korean War in the 1950s, also independently confirmed the intentions of the four North Koreans to remain here.
South Korea has been seeking to handle the issue according to international law and on a humanitarian basis. It tried to send back 27 of the North Koreans through the truce village of Panmunjom but Pyongyang refused to accept them, urging Seoul to repatriate all 31. The North said it can't trust the results of the South's probe.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/09/2011 00:00 ||
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Slave escapes are bad for discipline on the plantation.
1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
#7
Learning job skills leading to gainful employment for the burgeoning prison population, when most are illegals, gang members tied to the cartels/terrorists, or even homegrown anti-government psychopaths???? What could possibly go wrong????
[Geo News] Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani ... Pakistain's erstwhile current prime minister, whose occasional mental gymnastics can be awe-inspiring ... said the government is determined to implement the vision of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto for empowerment of women.
Speaking on the occasion of 100th anniversary of International Women's Day here on Tuesday, Prime Minister Gilani said the present democratic government is fully cognizant of the existing issues and problems being faced by women ranging from domestic to national life.
He said the theme of this year's International Women's Day of "access to education, training, science & technology" is in accordance with the march of time.
The government has taken significant initiatives for the social, political and economic empowerment of women, he added.
The Prime Minister said each year International Women's Day provides an occasion for taking stock of the progress and reflecting on the challenges that remain in the pursuit of gender equality.
He paid tribute to the brave women, who played a major role in the creation of Pakistain.
"Without their commitment, sacrifices, and struggle, it would not have been possible to realize the reality of Pakistain," he said.
He congratulated women around the world who are working tirelessly to end violence, prejudice and biases against them.
The Prime Minister said discrimination against women weakens society as a whole.
"Women's rights issues are not limited to Pakistain alone.
Other countries in the region are also faced with similar problems and barriers of archaic traditions and practices."
Gilani said no society can move forward without undoing the discriminatory attitudes and laws regarding women.
He noted that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto always placed women's empowerment agenda on her top priority.
"She encouraged women to come forward and contribute to the national progress," he said adding, "We will not bow down before the agenda of the faceless myrmidons who believe in destroying girls schools."
The Prime Minister said the government is determined to mainstream women's issues in the policies of the government.
National Policy for Development and Empowerment of Women, 2002 and National Plan of Action is being reviewed in the light of the current requirements and the vision of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed.
He said the government is addressing the subject of economic empowerment of women through various initiatives.
"Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), the largest ever program to provide financial support directly to the women of poor households is the bedrock of these initiatives."
Among others, it provides skills and technical training, health insurance and loans of upto Rs. 300,000, he said adding BISP has provided Rs. 25,000 for female beneficiaries in the flood affected areas.
The Prime Minister said BISP is not only contributing directly to the income of five million poor families across the country but has also empowered women by channeling cash transfers through them.
He congratulated Speaker of National Assembly Dr. Fehmida Mirza who took the initiative to launch the women caucus of 90 women parliamentarians.
"These committed women parliamentarians have been addressing the agenda of women development and empowerment across party lines for the rights of women in Pakistain."
Gilani expressed his government's commitment to a strong legislative cover to address women issues, which is evident through the measures taken so far.
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2009 has been enacted alongwith Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act passed by the parliament last year, he added.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/09/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Unless I've missed something as per the MSM-Net, the bulk of the "Jasmine" Protestors are fighting for jobs + modernity + a future, etc.
IOW, NOT REGRESSIONISM, NOR RADICAL ISLAMIST = ULTRA-CONSERVATIVE SHARIA.
Which, ironically, is one of the reasons Uncle Muammar wants to stay in power in Libyuh.
[Arab News] Hundreds of Jordanian journalists working in state-controlled media on Monday demanded an end to government curbs on media freedom, saying they were an obstacle to democratic transformation.
Emboldened by a wave of Arab uprisings, journalists from mainstream dailies, news websites, state television and radio joined forces in a rare show of unity against interference by officials and intelligence services.
Scores of journalists and writers rallied in a square close to several newspaper offices, chanting: "The press needs cleansing" and "We want an end to government tutelage and we want to fight corruption."
A large placard held by demonstrators read: "No to government and security hegemony over the press."
The protest was one of several in recent weeks by disgruntled workers taking advantage of unusual leniency as the authorities seek to avoid provoking the kind of upheaval that toppled veteran rulers in Tunisia and Egypt.
Scores of anti-government protests have been staged in the kingdom, including big demonstrations by the opposition, the country's largest party, demanding sweeping political reforms.
"The government's control over media institutions is total and not just in some papers or the state television. We want to raise the ceiling of freedoms," said Sameer Hayari, publisher of Ammonnews.net, the country's leading news website.
Hayari demanded an end to controls he said were used to cover up corruption, echoing the calls of thousands of pro-democracy protesters in Jordan since the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.
Media campaigners demanded that the authorities divest a majority holding in the country's largest circulation daily Al-Rai and a substantial share in Ad-Dustour, and end meddling in independent dailies such as Al-Ghad that makes them official mouthpieces on sensitive issues.
Ad-Dustour's chairman, Seif Al-Sharif, whose newspaper was once entirely privately owned, called for an end to state ownership of stakes in dailies, a legacy of martial law and draconian press laws that stifled freedom of expression until they were lifted in 1989.
Jordan's constitution enshrines press freedom but legislation allows authorities broad powers to restrict the media. Journalists face prosecution if their reporting is deemed by military courts to disparage the armed forces or sow dissent.
Direct censorship of print media was removed years ago but journalists complain that the intelligence services, which extended their pervasive influence in public life in recent years, are in touch with editors daily.
"The talk is that there is no censorship, but in reality there is direct and daily intervention and it's one that harms the professionalism of the press and means that other views that are opposed to the official line are absent," said Saud Qubailat, the head of Jordan's Writers Association.
Successive governments justified press curbs on security grounds and the new government appointed last month, led by a former army general tied to the security establishment, has dashed liberal hopes of moving faster on promised democratic reforms.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/09/2011 00:00 ||
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"My neighbor's on the right great grandfather raped my great grandfather's most beloved sheep---yet, I'm not free to take revenge!"
"My neighbor on the left is a secret Jew---I know that for a fact because I've seen his children wash their hands after visiting the crapper. Yet, I'm not free to kill them!"
[Arab News] Israel is likely to offer Paleostinians a state within temporary borders, the country's defense minister was quoted as saying Tuesday, detailing for the first time an emerging Israeli plan for breaking the deadlocked peace negotiations.
Though the Paleostinians repeatedly have rejected provisional statehood, Ehud Barak told The Wall Street Journal that Israel or the United States would have to give assurances that a full-fledged agreement on permanent statehood would follow.
Barak also told the newspaper that Israel might seek an additional $20 billion in US military aid to help it deal with potential threats arising from the turmoil in the Arab world.
While characterizing the popular upheavals in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and the Gulf as "a historic earthquake" and "quite inspired," Barak said Israel was worried that its top foes, Iran and Syria, "might be the last to feel the heat" of the revolts and that Egypt's new leaders might, under public pressure, back away from its 1979 peace treaty with Israel.
"The issue of qualitative military aid for Israel becomes more essential for us, and I believe also more essential for you," the newspaper quoted Barak as saying. "A strong, responsible Israel can become a stabilizer in such a turbulent region." Israel already receives $3 billion in military aid a year from the US
Without making a "daring" peace offer, however, Israel cannot seek additional aid, Barak was quoted as saying.
To that end, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to offer the Paleostinians a state with temporary borders, he said. Only afterward, would the two sides would resolve key issues of the conflict, such as competing claims to Jerusalem and the fate of Paleostinian refugees, Barak added.
No details of the plan were given.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/09/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Good deal.
It's like a temporary marriage in islam - you can quit any time...
Iran's former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a bitter opponent of President Mahmoud Short Round Ahmadinejad, saw his influence fade Tuesday when he abandoned one of his last two key regime posts.
State television and news agencies said conservative ex-premier Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani, 80, was elected as new head of the Assembly of Experts, the 86-member body which selects the supreme leader, supervises his activities and can dismiss him.
Rafsanjani had held the post for the past four years but declined to make a fresh bid for it after Mahdavi Kani declared his intention.
"I announce that if Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani is ready to take the responsibility of the Assembly of Experts, I will not run for the post," Rafsanjani was quoted by the Fars news agency as telling the powerful assembly.
Rafsanjani, who was president from 1989 to 1997, is considered a moderate and pragmatic conservative. But he has never hidden his disdain for Ahmadinejad, who defeated him in the 2005 presidential election.
His fallout with Ahmadinejad began when he indirectly offered support for opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi at the 2009 presidential poll.
Ahmadinejad's victory in the poll, which was hotly disputed by Mousavi and another losing candidate, Mehdi Karroubi, sparked mass demonstrations in the streets, with protesters demanding a new election be held.
In the aftermath of the riots, in which dozens were killed and hundreds nabbed, Rafsanjani made headlines by calling for political freedoms and for the release of political prisoners. He repeated the calls on a number of occasions, triggering the wrath of hardliners.
He also came under harsh criticism from conservatives, who demanded that he publicly condemn the two opposition leaders. The calls grew more strident when anti-government demonstrations resumed mid-February.
In a gradual about-turn which some say was due to increasing pressure from hardliners, Rafsanjani, who also heads the Expediency Council, another key institution of the Islamic republic, finally distanced himself from the opposition.
"In the current situation, I consider that the current constitution is sufficient... Some people are dissatisfied. I advise them to come back (to the regime) because we have no present alternative," he said in an appeal to protesters.
He more recently condemned the opposition protests and, referring to Karroubi and Mousavi, said the "leaders of sedition ... best served America and the Zionist regime."
One of Rafsanjani's sons, Mohsen Hashemi, resigned on Saturday as chairman of Tehran's metro, reportedly under pressure on the municipality by the government of Ahmadinejad.
Hashemi was reportedly at odds with Ahmadinejad, resulting in the metro not receiving the government subsidies it was allocated.
Faezeh Hashemi, Rafsanjani's outspoken daughter, was briefly jugged after "leading anti-revolutionaries and rioters" in Tehran protests on February 20.
Rafsanjani's other son, Mehdi, who is outside Iran, has an arrest warrant issued against him over his supposed role in the post election protests, though it has never been executed.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/09/2011 00:00 ||
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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.
the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon
Hamid 
[Tolo News] Afghan women's rights will never be sacrificed in peace talks with the Taliban, President Karzai said speaking at women's day ceremony on Tuesday.
The Taliban have 
Somali pirates
Yusuf Raza Gilani
Mahmoud 
