FEW AMERICANS, whatever their political persuasion, will mourn George W. Bush's departure from office. Democrats and Republicans alike are counting the days until the inauguration of a new president will wipe the slate clean.
Yet in crucial respects, the Bush era will not end Jan. 20, 2009. The administration's many failures, especially those related to Iraq, mask a considerable legacy. . . . almost entirely malignant, . . .
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Softer tone from Iran has experts guessing
In Tehran, Ali Akbar Velayati, a top adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned against “provocative” remarks on the nuclear crisis, although whether he meant remarks like the ones for which President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has become known is debatable.
Meanwhile, in New York, Iran’s foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, struck a soft tone during a press luncheon at the Iranian Mission to the United Nations, and refused to repeat Iran’s usual statement that it would never give up its right to uranium enrichment, although he was asked about it directly four times.
In the diplomatic world of trying to decipher Iran’s intentions, and which factions in its government support which policies, the two signs of softening prompted speculation and, in some circles, were as quickly dismissed. A European diplomat involved in the Iran negotiations said the West was getting “tired of reading tea leaves” when it came to figuring out what Iran’s rulers were trying to say.
Meanwhile, in New York, Iran’s foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, struck a soft tone during a press luncheon at the Iranian Mission to the United Nations, and refused to repeat Iran’s usual statement that it would never give up its right to uranium enrichment, although he was asked about it directly four times.
In the diplomatic world of trying to decipher Iran’s intentions, and which factions in its government support which policies, the two signs of softening prompted speculation and, in some circles, were as quickly dismissed. A European diplomat involved in the Iran negotiations said the West was getting “tired of reading tea leaves” when it came to figuring out what Iran’s rulers were trying to say.
India truckers strike over fuel
Nearly four million trucks are being kept off India's roads after their owners began an indefinite strike to protest against rising fuel bills.
The soaring global price of crude oil has forced the Indian government to cut subsidies and raise prices.
Truck operators say they have been hit hard by oil prices which have risen by 40% since the beginning of the year.
Trucks carry food and other essential commodities in India. The strike is likely to push up their prices.
Analysts say this will add to the double digit inflation and slow down growth in the country.
The soaring global price of crude oil has forced the Indian government to cut subsidies and raise prices.
Truck operators say they have been hit hard by oil prices which have risen by 40% since the beginning of the year.
Trucks carry food and other essential commodities in India. The strike is likely to push up their prices.
Analysts say this will add to the double digit inflation and slow down growth in the country.
Kashmir tries to defuse shrine riots by revoking deal
Officials in Indian-administered Kashmir have stepped in to try to defuse a row over the donation of government land to a Hindu shrine which triggered the biggest protests in the area for almost two decades.
The state government said it would revoke its decision to hand over almost 100 acres to build facilities for the hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims who visit the Shri Amarnath shrine in the predominantly Muslim state.
It hopes the move will calm demonstrations that have raged across Kashmir for the past fortnight, leaving at least five people dead and hundreds injured.
The state government said it would revoke its decision to hand over almost 100 acres to build facilities for the hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims who visit the Shri Amarnath shrine in the predominantly Muslim state.
It hopes the move will calm demonstrations that have raged across Kashmir for the past fortnight, leaving at least five people dead and hundreds injured.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Jordan to prosecute Dutch MP over anti-Islam film
The Jordanian move follows Monday's announcement by Amsterdam's chief public prosecutor Leo de Wit that no case will be brought against Mr Wilders in the Netherlands for either discrimination or incitement to hatred.
ISNA's Internet reach ahead of CAIR, ICNA, MPAC
The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) placed first among five organizations in Alexa's 3-month average traffic rank — a combined measure of page views and users (reach) for a web site.
The Wisdom Fund — the smallest of the five organizations reviewed, with a fraction of the funding of the others — placed ahead of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC).
The five organizations reviewed were ranked as follows:
1 - The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
2 - Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
3 - The Wisdom Fund (TWF.ORG)
4 - Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)
5 - Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)
The Wisdom Fund — the smallest of the five organizations reviewed, with a fraction of the funding of the others — placed ahead of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC).
The five organizations reviewed were ranked as follows:
1 - The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
2 - Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
3 - The Wisdom Fund (TWF.ORG)
4 - Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)
5 - Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)
'Weak' Iran ripe to be attacked
New arguments by analysts close to Israeli thinking in favor of United States strikes against Iran cite evidence of Iranian military weakness in relation to the US and Israel, and even raise doubts that Iran is rushing to obtain such weapons at all. . . .
In basing the case for aggressive war against Iran on the weakness of the target state rather than the threat of its military power and aggressiveness, the pro-Israeli analysts are following a familiar pattern in dominant power policymaking toward war on weaker states.
In basing the case for aggressive war against Iran on the weakness of the target state rather than the threat of its military power and aggressiveness, the pro-Israeli analysts are following a familiar pattern in dominant power policymaking toward war on weaker states.
Iraq fails to ink deals with global oil majors
Iraq is still negotiating with Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, Chevron and Total, and a consortium of other smaller oil companies, to develop six oil blocks and two gas fields, Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani told a press briefing.
"We did not finalise any agreement with them because they refused to offer consultancy based on fees as they wanted a share of the oil," he said.
"We did not finalise any agreement with them because they refused to offer consultancy based on fees as they wanted a share of the oil," he said.
Ex-agent says CIA ignored Iran facts
A former CIA operative who says he tried to warn the agency about faulty intelligence on Iraqi weapons programs now contends that CIA officials also ignored evidence that Iran had suspended work on a nuclear bomb.
Turkish ruling party put on trial
Turkey's chief prosecutor has appeared before the country's Constitutional Court calling for the governing party to be closed down.
Founded by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Justice and Development Party, the AKP, won a landslide victory in the last election. But its critics say it is trying to impose Sharia law on the secular state. The party's attempt to ease a ban on the wearing of the Islamic headscarf is expected to be central to the evidence.
Founded by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Justice and Development Party, the AKP, won a landslide victory in the last election. But its critics say it is trying to impose Sharia law on the secular state. The party's attempt to ease a ban on the wearing of the Islamic headscarf is expected to be central to the evidence.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Prosecutors charge accused USS Cole mastermind
U.S. military prosecutors have requested the death penalty for the alleged mastermind behind the bombing of the USS Cole warship that killed 17 U.S. sailors in 2000, the Pentagon said on Monday.
Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, a Saudi Arabian national of Yemeni descent being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, faces eight charges, including murder and terrorism, for the attack in the Yemeni port of Aden on October 12, 2000, that wounded 47 sailors.
Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, a Saudi Arabian national of Yemeni descent being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, faces eight charges, including murder and terrorism, for the attack in the Yemeni port of Aden on October 12, 2000, that wounded 47 sailors.
Democrat with military background assails McCain's credentials
The retired general Wesley Clark said McCain had not "held executive responsibility" and had not commanded troops in wartime.
McCain's experience in Vietnam, where he was a prisoner of war for five years, has seemed at times almost to grant him invulnerability to criticism of his security background. But on Sunday he was assailed by a fellow military man, a highly decorated one who was once the NATO supreme commander.
McCain's experience in Vietnam, where he was a prisoner of war for five years, has seemed at times almost to grant him invulnerability to criticism of his security background. But on Sunday he was assailed by a fellow military man, a highly decorated one who was once the NATO supreme commander.
US advised Iraqi ministry on oil deals
A group of American advisers led by a small State Department team played an integral part in drawing up contracts between the Iraqi government and five major Western oil companies to develop some of the largest fields in Iraq, American officials say.
The disclosure, coming on the eve of the contracts’ announcement, is the first confirmation of direct involvement by the Bush administration in deals to open Iraq’s oil to commercial development and is likely to stoke criticism.
In their role as advisers to the Iraqi Oil Ministry, American government lawyers and private-sector consultants provided template contracts and detailed suggestions on drafting the contracts, advisers and a senior State Department official said.
The disclosure, coming on the eve of the contracts’ announcement, is the first confirmation of direct involvement by the Bush administration in deals to open Iraq’s oil to commercial development and is likely to stoke criticism.
In their role as advisers to the Iraqi Oil Ministry, American government lawyers and private-sector consultants provided template contracts and detailed suggestions on drafting the contracts, advisers and a senior State Department official said.
Iraq to award oil contracts to foreign companies
Iraq on Monday will award oil contracts to dozens of foreign companies in a bid to boost production that could also give multinationals a foothold in the country's huge but underdeveloped oil fields.
The oil ministry is to hold a press conference to announce the deals which include five technical support agreements with companies such as Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total and BHP Billiton, ministry spokesman Asim Jihad said.
The ministry also plans to sign contracts with 41 other foreign companies for extracting oil, . . .
The oil ministry is to hold a press conference to announce the deals which include five technical support agreements with companies such as Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total and BHP Billiton, ministry spokesman Asim Jihad said.
The ministry also plans to sign contracts with 41 other foreign companies for extracting oil, . . .
Riots rage in Kashmir
Protesters continue to riot on the streets of Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir for the eighth day, burning tyres and vehicles and marching against what they called a government plan to build Hindu settlements in the country's only Muslim-majority state.
Thousands of police patrolling the region have been unsuccessful in quelling the riots, and businesses, shops and schools in the provincial capital remain closed.
A declaration from the state's top elected official on Sunday that his cabinet would formally revoke the plan also failed to subdue the protests.
Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, a prominent separatist leader, said the riots would continue "until we see the revocation in writing".
Thousands of police patrolling the region have been unsuccessful in quelling the riots, and businesses, shops and schools in the provincial capital remain closed.
A declaration from the state's top elected official on Sunday that his cabinet would formally revoke the plan also failed to subdue the protests.
Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, a prominent separatist leader, said the riots would continue "until we see the revocation in writing".
Sunday, June 29, 2008
The Bush Administration steps up its secret moves against Iran
Late last year, Congress agreed to a request from President Bush to fund a major escalation of covert operations against Iran, according to current and former military, intelligence, and congressional sources. These operations, for which the President sought up to four hundred million dollars, were described in a Presidential Finding signed by Bush, and are designed to destabilize the country’s religious leadership.
The covert activities involve support of the minority Ahwazi Arab and Baluchi groups and other dissident organizations. They also include gathering intelligence about Iran’s suspected nuclear-weapons program.
Clandestine operations against Iran are not new. United States Special Operations Forces have been conducting cross-border operations from southern Iraq, with Presidential authorization, since last year.
The covert activities involve support of the minority Ahwazi Arab and Baluchi groups and other dissident organizations. They also include gathering intelligence about Iran’s suspected nuclear-weapons program.
Clandestine operations against Iran are not new. United States Special Operations Forces have been conducting cross-border operations from southern Iraq, with Presidential authorization, since last year.
Separation and ethnic cleansing — Israel's encaging of Gaza
In 1895 Theodor Herzl, Zionism’s chief prophet, confided in his diary that he did not favour sharing Palestine with the natives. Better, he wrote, to “try to spirit the penniless [Palestinian] population across the border by denying it any employment in our own country . . . Both the process of expropriation and the removal of the poor must be carried out discreetly and circumspectly.”
He was proposing a programme of Palestinian emigration enforced through a policy of strict separation between Jewish immigrants and the indigenous population. In simple terms, he hoped that, once Zionist organisations had bought up large areas of Palestine and owned the main sectors of the economy, Palestinians could be made to leave by denying them rights to work the land or labour in the Jewish-run economy. His vision was one of transfer, or ethnic cleansing, through ethnic separation.
He was proposing a programme of Palestinian emigration enforced through a policy of strict separation between Jewish immigrants and the indigenous population. In simple terms, he hoped that, once Zionist organisations had bought up large areas of Palestine and owned the main sectors of the economy, Palestinians could be made to leave by denying them rights to work the land or labour in the Jewish-run economy. His vision was one of transfer, or ethnic cleansing, through ethnic separation.
Mugabe claims 'sweeping victory'
Robert Mugabe has said he is heading for a "sweeping victory" in Zimbabwe's unopposed run-off presidential poll.
Officials have scheduled his inauguration for 1300 GMT on Sunday, even though official results are yet to be published.
He was the only candidate after the opposition boycotted the vote amid reports of violence and intimidation.
Officials have scheduled his inauguration for 1300 GMT on Sunday, even though official results are yet to be published.
He was the only candidate after the opposition boycotted the vote amid reports of violence and intimidation.
Shadow of war looms as Israel flexes its muscle
The meeting at the home of Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was not supposed to be public. The man invited into Olmert's official residence in Jerusalem was Aviam Sela, architect of Operation Opera in 1981, when Israel launched a long-range strike against Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor. Regarded as a brilliant aviation tactician, in particular in the field of in-flight refuelling, Olmert's office tried to play down the meeting. But the rumours in Israel's defence establishment were already flying.
Sela, according to sources close to the meeting, had been called in so that Olmert could ask his opinion on the likely effectiveness of a similar raid to Opera on the nuclear installations of Iran.
Sela, according to sources close to the meeting, had been called in so that Olmert could ask his opinion on the likely effectiveness of a similar raid to Opera on the nuclear installations of Iran.
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