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October 30, 2005

U.S. Said to be Aiming for Regime Change Lite in Syria

Howard LaFranchi, staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor, states in the paper's October 31, 2005 edition that, "The Bush administration's goal in Syria is a familiar one: regime change."

"But unlike in the cases of Afghanistan and Iraq," he wrote, "this time the US goal might be called "regime change lite." The objective, at least for now, is to change the nature of the regime in power in Damascus without necessarily forcing removal of the man in charge."

The Bush Administration would have a fit if another nation tried to do what it did in Afghanistan; is doing in Iraq and attempting to do in Syria. I guess it's ok to be a hypocrite when you are the leader of a major power. Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 04:54 PM | Comments (0)

Will Bashar Assad Have to Fight His Family to Survive?

In an October 31, 2005 special for The Daily Star of Lebanon, veteran Middle East analyst Patrick Seale of Britain asserts that:

The political storm caused by the Mehlis report into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has, paradoxically, provided Syria's President Bashar Assad with a golden opportunity. For the first time since he came to power in 2000, he has a unique chance to impose his authority on rival power centers and emerge as the real ruler of Syria.

In their different ways, both the international community and his own public are urging him to act. They are encouraging him to carry out a "corrective movement" against undisciplined barons of his regime, including men close to him, similar to the palace coup which brought his late father, Hafez Assad, to power in 1970.Mr. Seale added: "The choice before Assad is clear: either continue to claim that Syria is innocent of the murder of Hariri and that the charges in the Mehlis report are unsound and politically motivated or recognize that mistakes have been made and carry out a purge of the top security officials named in the report."

For more of Mr. Seale's analysis, please read "To survive, Bashar Assad will have to fight his family."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 04:09 PM | Comments (0)

'It's Time for New Blood Inside the White House'

American Journalist David Frum, a prominent and influential columnist at the conservative National Review Online says, "It's obviously well past time for some new blood inside the White House."

There is strong speculation that Mr. Bush will replace a number of officials in the wake of the October 28, 2005 indictment of Irving Lewis "Scooter" Libby, U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff.

Read why.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 03:51 PM | Comments (0)

“Scooter” Takes The Fall: Conservatives Breathe A Sigh Of Relief

After months of rising dread in U.S. President George W. Bush’s Administration, Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald gave both the administration and its critics something to crow about on October 29, 2005.

Fitzgerald announced a five-count indictment centering on perjury and obstruction of justice against only Irving Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney’s Chief of Staff and advisor to the president. President Bush and Karl Rove, a/k/a Bush’s brain, must be in a party–hardy mood because Rove has apparently beaten the rap – for now at least.

Although we all know Rove must have been involved in the outing of Valerie Plame as a covert CIA agent, Fitzgerald must have believed he could not construct a strong legal case against him. As a man of integrity, Fitzgerald would only indict someone against whom he honestly believed he could prove criminal conduct regardless of whether he believed Rove was as guilty as sin. So be it!

But we also know that given the inbred Bush administration, “Scooter” was not some rogue elephant running amok leaking secret information willy-nilly. He was part of what former Secretary of State Colin Powell’s chief of staff has called the right-wing Cabal centered on Vice President Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld that pushed this country into war. These guys have a code of silence that that would put the mob to shame. “Scooter” was acting to take care of some wise guy who had messed with this Cabal’s desire to – as the Wall Street Journal’s October 24th editorial put it – defend President Bush’s “policy and his administration” at all cost. When they took their revenge on Ambassador Joseph Wilson’s exposure of their lies about Iraq’s nuclear weapons’ program by outing his wife, they were doing pay back. “Scooter” probably will not turn on the Cabal.

While we might wish that Fitzgerald believed he could indict Rove, all in all, “Scooter’s” indictment is just another brick in the wall exposing the duplicity of the Bush Administration in taking this country into the Iraqi quagmire. Anything that advances the truth should be welcomed. The final irony may be – and mark my words – if “Scooter” is convicted, the last act of President Bush before leaving the White House will be a presidential pardon.

Editor's Note: This column is cross-posted at The Opinion Gazette.

Posted by Nelson A. Brown, Jr. at 03:18 PM | Comments (0)

October 28, 2005

Another Diplomatic Offensive Against Iran

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom told Israel Radio, according to the BBC, ""We have decided to open a broad diplomatic offensive" against Iran.

"I have called on my counterparts through the world not to turn a blind eye and to stop once and for all the Iranian games," he said.

According to the BBC,

Mr Shalom spoke as thousands of Iranian demonstrators took to the streets for an annual day of protest against Zionism and the state of Israel.
Mr Ahmadinejad, during a brief appearance at the rally, backed his comments, saying that opposition to the existence of Israel had been official state policy since the Islamic revolution of 1979.
"My words were the Iranian nation's words," he told the official Irna news agency.

His initial comment, at a conference in Tehran, prompted Israel's call for the UN to expel Iran and sparked widespread condemnation.

While Israel will undoubtedly launch a diplomatic offensive against Iran, it will be just another in a series of offensive against the Islamic Republic during the past 26 years. Various offensives have taken place since 1979, when the Iranians ended U.S. domination of their country. One of prong of the offensive is to force Iran to end its nuclear program. However, there is no such offensive against Israel, one of the major nuclear powers. There seems to be a concerted effort to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of non-white people, while allowing certain predominantly white or Christian nations to posses them.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:44 AM | Comments (0)

Speculation on Possible Libby, Rove Indictments

Today U.S. Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald may make an announcement that could confirm or discredit media speculation that I. Lewis ''Scooter'' Libby, American Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, will be indicted for making false statements to the Federal Grand Jury investigating the Bush Administration's leak of CIA Agent Valerie Plame name to journalists such as syndicated columnist Robert Novak, Judy Miller of the New York Times' and Matt Cooper of Time.

The goal was to discredit Ms. Plame's husband, Joseph C. Wilson, for daring to publicly criticize in the pages of the New York Times President George W. Bush's bogus claim that Iraq sought to buy Uranium Yellowcake from Niger, for use in weapons of mass destruction.

According to The New York Times, it's sources don't expect presidential adviser Karl Rove to be indicted today, however, he would "remain under suspicion as Fitzgerald extends the grand jury."

Even if Rove is not indicted, he's damaged goods and will forever be viewed in some quarters as someone willing to sacrifice an American agent for political purposes. While President Bush may want to keep his "brain" around to bail him out of politically sticky situations, the honorable thing for Rove to do is resign whether he is indicted or not.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:28 AM | Comments (0)

October 27, 2005

The Deep Rifts in Iranian Politics

Safa Haeri, described by Asia Times Online as "a Paris-based Iranian journalist covering the Middle East and Central Asia," says

The call by Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday [October 26, 2005] for Israel to be "wiped off the map"... "signifies deep rifts within the country between his administration and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his small clique that ultimately controls the levers of power.

For more, please see "Iran on course for a showdown."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:43 AM | Comments (0)

The Israeli-Palestinian Tit-for-Tat

"Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has vowed "wide-ranging and ceaseless" operations against Palestinian militants after the first suicide bombing [October 26, 2005] in two months," reports the BBC and other news agencies.

I wonder whether the bombing would have been carried out if Mr. Sharon's had shelved his policy of killing Muslim leaders in Palestine. Surely, he didn't think he could continue to do whatever he wanted without retaliation. Just asking. Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:35 AM | Comments (0)

Despite Israel's Desires, Iran Won't be Expelled From the U.N.

Shimon Peres, Israel's vice prime minister, wants Iran expelled from the United Stations over Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's purported contention that Israel should be "wiped off the map."

Well, folks, it's not going to happen. Russia or China would likely use their Security Council veto to stop such a move.Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:25 AM | Comments (0)

Iraqi Sunni Groups Views on Elections Highlight Divisions

Buried in an October 27, 2005 Associated Press article announcing that three more U.S. Soldiers have been killed in Iraq is the assertion that on October 26, 2005 "an influential group of hardline Sunni Arab clerics, the Association of Muslim Scholars, denounced the [Iraqi] constitution and said they will not join the political process," which culminates in elections in December.

As the AP notes, on October 26, "three Sunni Arab groups the General Conference for the People of Iraq, the Iraqi Islamic Party and the Iraqi National Dialogue joined forces to field candidates in the election, which was made possible by Iraq's newly ratified constitution."

But Reuters quotes Hussein al-Falluji, "a prominent Sunni who took part in talks on the constitution," as saying:

Our political program will focus more on getting the Americans out of Iraq. Our message to the American administration is clear: get out of Iraq or set a timetable for withdrawal or the resistance will keep slaughtering your soldiers until Judgment Day

Such contradictions are to be expected as Iraqis dispute over elections that will result because of the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. If another country had pulled such a stunt the Bush Administration would be up in arms.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:39 AM | Comments (0)

Don't Get Too Excited by Sunni Parties' Plan to Contest Iraqi Elections

American supporters of the Bush Administration's attempt to force democracy on Iraq out of the barrels of guns shouldn't get too excited by the announcement that the Iraqi Islamic Party, the National Dialogue Council and the People's Gathering will join forces to contest the December 15, 2005 elections. As Professor Juan Cole at Informed Comment notes in an analysis of the announcement, Reuters quoted Hussein al-Falluji, "a prominent Sunni who took part in talks on the constitution," as saying:

Our political program will focus more on getting the Americans out of Iraq. Our message to the American administration is clear: get out of Iraq or set a timetable for withdrawal or the resistance will keep slaughtering your soldiers until Judgment Day.

"How this is good news for the Bush administration I do not understand, but that is the way that Rupert Murdoch will spin it on Fox Cable News," Mr. Cole contends. Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:21 AM | Comments (0)

October 26, 2005

Reuters: 'Iraq Sunnis Seek U.S. Pullout as Deaths Mount'

Reuters reported today that, "Iraqi Sunni leaders said on Wednesday [October 26, 2005] they would focus on pressing U.S. forces to pull out after failing to block a controversial constitution, hoping a U.S. death toll of 2,000 will encourage Washington to withdraw."

How in hell are they going to pressure the U.S. to withdraw when they couldn't prevent the constitutional referendum from passing? Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:33 AM | Comments (0)

Arab News: The Stage is Set for Iraq's Parliamentary Elections

Arab News opined in an October 26, 2005 editorial that:

All interested parties will try to extract the message that most suits them from the overwhelming endorsement of the new Iraqi Constitution which was announced yesterday by the UN officials supervising the vote. However, regardless of any spin, the plain fact is that first the interim parliamentary elections and now the constitutional referendum have taken place, despite dire predictions that the men of violence would sabotage the process.

The publication said, "The stage is now set for final parliamentary elections in early December at which point Iraq will have, on paper at least, completed its rapid transformation from a single-party dictatorship to a pluralist democracy."

We shall see whether a constituion imposed by an occupation force will stick or lead to the long-predicted civil war, which many think is already underway. Here's the entire editorial.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:28 AM | Comments (0)

Will Russia Veto Attempts to Impose Sanctions on Syria?

RIA Novosti of Russia reported October 26, 2005 from Israel that, "Russia is against imposing sanctions on Syria in connection with an investigation into the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday," October 26.

"Russia will do everything necessary to prevent sanctions being imposed," the ministry's official spokesman, Mikhail Kamynin, was quoted as saying.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:22 AM | Comments (0)

Be Careful About What You Wish For in Syria

Adib Farha, a political analyst and former adviser to Lebanon's finance minister, argues in an October 26, 2005 article in The Globe and Mail of Toronto that:

We should continue to use every peaceful means to steer the Syrian leadership toward changing its evil ways. The goal should be behavioral change, not regime change. A premature fall of the Assad regime could "open up the gates of hell" (to borrow a phrase the Syrian Prime Minister recently used to threaten the U.S.), and everyone would be in deep trouble.

"So, a word of caution to cheerleaders for immediate regime change," warned Mr. Farha, who now lives in the United States: "Be careful what you wish for, because you might get it."

For more, please read "Mind what you wish for in Syria.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:16 AM | Comments (0)

The Caribbean Corruption or Perception of Corruption Problem

Tony Best of Carib World Radio said October 25, 2005 that, " Caribbean nations seem to be failing in their efforts to root out corruption or eliminate the perception of it."

He said, "According to the latest global survey conducted by Transparency International, with the exception of Barbados, the levels of corruption or perception of corruption in several Caribbean nations were either considered "very serious" or "severe." Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana, Belize, Haiti, Suriname and the Dominican Republic were on that list of nations with that problem," Mr. Best added. Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 12:35 AM | Comments (0)

October 25, 2005

Can Nigeria Improve its Image?

Eddy Ekpenyong of The Daily Champion of Lagos, Nigeria makes a though-provoking analysis of Nigeria's efforts to burnish its international image and regain the moral authority it once enjoyed in African affairs. To read Mr. Ekpenyong's analysis, please see "Rebranding Nigeria's Image."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 11:14 PM | Comments (0)

South Africa Raises Economic Growth Forecasts

"South Africa's economy will grow by an average of over 4 percent over the next three years, driven by investment spending by the government and its agencies, the National Treasury said on Tuesday," October 25, 2005, reports Lucia Mutikani of Reuters South Africa.

"The focus is clearly on accelerating growth. Accelerated growth expands the resource envelope. It makes a redistribution of wealth and income possible through the process of development, and not at its expense," Finance Minister Trevor Manuel told parliament, according to Reuters.

Ms. Mutikani said, "The government aims to raise the country's annual economic growth rate to 6 percent by 2010 from around 4 percent now to help reduce high levels of poverty and halve steep unemployment -- officially estimated at 26.5 percent." Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 11:00 PM | Comments (0)

More Posts Later Today

Editor's Note: Look for more posts later today. I will resume the schedule of multiple posts of news from around world now that I'm a bit rested.

Sincerely,
Munir Umrani, editor and publisher

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:37 AM | Comments (0)

Galloway to U.S. Senate: Charge Me With Perjury

"George Galloway today challenged US senators to charge him with perjury over claims that he solicited money from Saddam Hussein's oil-for-food program and lied about it under oath," according to The Independent of London.

Mr. Galloway is not a U.S. citizen. Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:33 AM | Comments (0)

Among the Dead in Baghdad

Professor Juan Cole of the University of Michigan, USA, noted in Informed Comment that "A set of 3 powerful bombings in Baghdad, along with other attacks and violence, left 37 dead and dozens wounded on Monday," October 24, 2005. "Among the dead in Baghdad, al-Zaman says, was the director of the biggest of the American security companies in Iraq, which is responsible for safeguarding the big personalities and diplomats."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:28 AM | Comments (0)

Iraq's American Constituion

According to the Associated Press, "Iraq's landmark constitution was adopted by a majority of voters during the country's 15 October referendum, as Sunni Arab opponents failed to muster enough support to defeat it, election officials said today [October 25, 2005].

"Whatever the results of the referendum are ... it is a civilized step that aims to put Iraq on the path of true democracy," the wire service quoted "Farid Ayar, an official with the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq," as saying "before reading the final results at a news conference."

Is a constitution written by foreign occupiers valid? Would the U.S. or Brtain allow foreigners to write a constitution for their citizens? Just asking Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:20 AM | Comments (0)

Leaked Paper Says Britain's Counterterrorism Strategy is Failing

The Sunday Times of London's David Leppard reported October 23, 2005 that:

THE government's counterterrorism strategy is failing, according to a leaked paper by the prime ministers delivery unit, which was set up to ensure policies work effectively.

In an indictment of Labours war on terror, the confidential document says that key policies designed to prevent Al-Qaeda attacks and stop terrorism taking root in Britain are immature and disjointed. Others, it adds, are unrelated to the real world and show no sign of making progress.Mr. Leppard said, "The paper, which formed the backbone of a presentation this month to Downing Street insiders, will be seen by some as a criticism of Charles Clarke, who as home secretary has responsibility for running much of Britain's counterterrorism effort."

For more, please see "Labour's war on terror is failing, says leaked report."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:10 AM | Comments (0)

October 24, 2005

Jumblatt Urges Bashar al-Asad to Cooperate on Hariri Probe

Ya Libnan (O Lebanon) reported October 23, 2005 that, Lebanese "political leader Walid Jumblatt urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday [October 23] to cooperate with the U.N. investigation into Rafik Hariri's assassination, saying it was necessary to establish the truth." Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:39 PM | Comments (0)

Demand that Lebanon's Lahoud Resign Intensifies

Leila Hatoum, staff writer for The Daily Star of Lebanon, reported October 25, 2005 that, "Pressures intensified Monday [ October 24] for Lebanese President Emile Lahoud to resign, after the UN report named his top four security chiefs as suspects in the killing of former premier Rafik Hariri."

For more, please see "Campaign for Lahoud to resign intensifies after Mehlis report."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:33 PM | Comments (0)

The Deltev Mehlis' Report

On October 22, 2005, The Daily Star of Lebanon published the Deltev Mehlis' report into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri for the benefit of its readers. Here are the sections excised from the report released to the public.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:27 PM | Comments (0)

Sami Moubayed: The ball is Now in Syria's court

Syrian political analyst Sami Moubayed, writing in the October 25, 2005 edition of Asia Times Online, said "The findings of the United Nations-sanctioned Mehlis commission have ripped like a thunderstorm through Syria and Lebanon."

" When parts of the 53-page report began to emerge at about midnight (Damascus time) on October 20-21, everybody turned on Arabic satellite TV," he wrote. "People were waiting to hear a clear sentence saying: "Syrian Mr X pressed the explode button on February 14, 2005, killing former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri, under orders from Damascus."

"Such an explicit statement was not made," Mr. Moubayed noted. "A threat, rather than an accusation, was fired at Damascus in the Mehlis report, making it clear that it could not find concrete evidence against Syria. Had the investigation obtained something tangible to incriminate the Syrians, by name, it would not have failed to include it in the findings," Mr. Moubayed contends.

For more, please see "The ball is now in Syria's court."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:45 PM | Comments (0)

Is Syria is being Set Up to Fail?

On October 23, Joshua Landis at Syria Comment. Com published what he calls "a most extraordinary letter from Syria's Ambassador in Washington Imad Mustapha to Congresswoman Sue Kelly," which has come into his possession. He wrote:

It explains how the American Administration has been stonewalling Syrian cooperation on a host of issues. It explains how Syria is being set up to fail so that the US can isolate it and carry out a process of regime-change at the expense of Iraqi stability and the lives of American soldiers and Iraqi civilians. It explains how the US administration's policy of forcing regime change in Syria is trumping the need to save lives in Iraq.

Mr. Landis, an assistant professor of Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, who is currently living and studying in Syria on a Fulbright scholarship, added:"

I also have the letter written by Congresswoman Sue Kelly, and signed by 100 fellow congressmen, which was originally sent to Ambassador Mustapha on Sept. 30, 2005 and which elicited this reply.

He said the letter "is short and reiterates the usual administration complaints about the lack of Syrian cooperation with the war on terror and effort to stabilize Iraq."

For more, please read "Syria is being Set Up to Fail: A Leaked Letter from Washington."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:33 PM | Comments (0)

A Look at 'The Jews of Syria'

Fulbright Scholar Joshua Landis, proprietor of Syria Comment. Com, today published an article by Robert Tuttle headlined "The Jews of Syria." I recommend it.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:14 PM | Comments (0)

October 23, 2005

History News Network's Inteview With Informed Comment's Juan Cole

Ton Engelhardt, author of The End of Victory Culture and co-editor of History Wars, the Enola Gay and Other Battles for the American Past, has a very informative article at the History News Network on Professor Juan Cole, proprietor of the influential Informed Comment blog. I highly recommend it.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:27 PM | Comments (0)

October 21, 2005

AlJazeera: Syria rejects UN report

"Syria has rejected a UN investigation into the murder of a former Lebanese premier, calling it politically biased," reports Aljazeera.

"It is a political statement against Syria based on allegations by witnesses known for their hostility to Syria," Mehdi Dakhlallah, Syria's information minister, told Aljazeera in the first official reaction from Damascus to the report," the publication said. Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:37 AM | Comments (0)

Ya Libnan: Mehlis Report Calls for No Arrests at This Stage

"Detlev Mehlis handed over his report to UN Secretary General [Kofi] Annan yesterday [October 20, 2005]," Ya Libnan (O Lebanon) told its readers today. "Even though it did not call for the arrest of any Syrians at this stage it was highly critical of the Syrian government." The publication added:

It accused Syrian authorities of trying to mislead the investigation and directly accused Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa of lying in a letter sent to Mehlis' commission.The investigation into the murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri of Lebanon is focusing on Assef Shawkat, the powerful brother-in-law of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria as the main suspect, a diplomat with intimate knowledge of the inquiry said Thursday [October 20, 2005]. He described Shawkat as " the ringleader."

Ya Libnan said, "Shawkat is considered the second most powerful man in Syria and has been seen as a likely candidate to take over the country if the embattled Mr. Assad was removed from office." Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:32 AM | Comments (0)

Lebanon Prepares for Trouble After UN Report's on Hariri is Released

The Daily Star of Lebanon reported today that, "As the Lebanese Army deployed throughout Beirut in anticipation of the UN report into former Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination, the government decided to suspend all gun licenses. Meanwhile, some citizens set up neighborhood watch groups to keep an eye out for potential bombers. Many believe the report will implicate Syria, and expect an escalation of violence in the country to follow." Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:37 AM | Comments (0)

Mehlis' Report: Top Syrian Security officials Approved Hariri's Murder

Mayssam Zaaroura, Majdoline Hatoum and Leila Hatoum, staff writers for The Daily Star of Lebanon, reported today from Beirut and New York that:

Chief Investigator Detlev Mehlis said the decision to assassinate former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri could not have been taken without the approval top Syrian security officials and further organized with the counterparts in the Lebanese security services. Mehlis, who presented his report to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Thursday, said in his report on the investigations his team conducted since June 16, 2005, that witness statements who didn't approach the authorities for lack of confidence told the commission that Syria approved the killing of Hariri.

He also noted that the Commissions investigation has confirmed what many in Lebanon have long asserted, that senior Syrian intelligence officials had a powerful day-to-day and overall strategic influence on the governance of Lebanon.The Daily Star reporters said, "In his conclusion Mehlis wrote that the structure and organization of the Syrian and Lebanese intelligence services in Lebanon at the time of the blast, including protocols for reporting, shows a pervasive impact on everyday life in Lebanon."

That was obvious to anyone who has followed Syrian and Lebanese politics over the years.We see the same practice in Iraq, where the U.S. controls Iraq's intelligence service. Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:30 AM | Comments (0)

October 19, 2005

Ivory Coast Won't Share BCEAO Presidency

"Ivory Coast's president said on Tuesday [October 18, 2005] his country would not relinquish the governorship of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), rejecting a proposal by other members to rotate the job," according to Reuters. Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:36 AM | Comments (0)

Tensions Between Eritrea, Ethiopia Still Simmering

"Eritrea reined in United Nations peacekeepers along its border with Ethiopia, leaving the force incapable of giving the world much warning if the Horn of Africa rivals were to clash again," according to an article in The Independent Online of South Africa.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:31 AM | Comments (0)

Iran Still Looking for Missing Diplomats

"Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the ministry will do its utmost to find the whereabouts of the Iranian diplomats long missing in Lebanon," reports Iran Mania.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:44 AM | Comments (0)

Africa, Middle East at Risk for Bird Flu

"A UN agency warned Wednesday [October 18, 2005]that the risk of bird flu spreading to the Middle East and Africa has markedly increased following the confirmation of outbreaks in Romania and Turkey," according to The Associated Press.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:42 AM | Comments (0)

Iran Preparing for Bird Flu Outbreak

"Iran has banned bird hunting and is stocking up on flu vaccines as it braces for what officials acknowledge is a highly likely outbreak of bird flu which has already arrived at its borders," according to Reuters.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:40 AM | Comments (0)

Replaying the Great Game in Central Asia

"There is a direct parallel between the current Russian-American rivalry in Central Asia and the military-diplomatic duel that the Russian and British empires were waging in the Eurasian heartland in the 19th century, the analysts say," Eurasia Daily Monitor reported back on October 13, 2005.

"Both Moscow and Washington deny they are intensely competing in the strategically important region, but the two sides' deeds are more eloquent than words," the publication said. Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:36 AM | Comments (0)

Russian Foreign Minister to Visit Uzbekistan: Why?

Ria Novosti reported today that, "Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will arrive in Uzbekistan on a routine visit October 21 to discuss regional integration, the political situation in the region, the fight against terrorism and drug-trafficking, and measures to enhance global strategic stability and disarmament."

"Special attention will be paid to the military and political situation in Central Asia and joint efforts against international terrorism, extremism, and drug-trafficking," official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Kamynin said Wednesday, October 18, 2005, according to the news agency. Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:29 AM | Comments (0)

Asia-Pacific Corruption Index Remains High

Transparency International's "Corruption Perceptions Index 2005" show that "Public sector corruption in the Asia-Pacific region continues to be high but some countries are improving their record," Japan Today reported October 19, 2005. Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:23 AM | Comments (0)

Transparency International: Central Asia's Corruption Outlook Dismal

Ben Elers, Transparency International's (TI) program manager for Europe and Central Asia, said on October 18, 2005 that Central Asia was an area "of real concern to us" in terms of government corruption," according to the United Nation's Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN).

"Turkmenistan has done the worst," he added, speaking from the organization's Berlin headquarters, according to IRIN, "But basically, all of the Central Asian republics have scored less than three out of 10, which really does indicate there is a strong perception of endemic corruption throughout the region."

"There is not really much change [in the region]. There is [only] a slight improvement in Kazakhstan," Mr. Elers added, according to IRIN. Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:14 AM | Comments (0)

Fake Yahoo News Site Falsely Reports That China Invaded Okinawa

The Mainichi Daily News told its readers that "a Website pretending to be the Yahoo news site has carried a fake Kyodo News article saying Chinese troops have invaded Okinawa, it was learned Wednesday," October 18, 2005. Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:04 AM | Comments (0)

Tensions Worsen Between Japan and its Asian Neighbors

"Tensions worsened between Japan and its Asian neighbors on Wednesday [October 18, 2005] when South Korea's foreign minister scuttled plans for talks in Tokyo because of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to a controversial war shrine," according to Mainichi Daily News.

The publication said, "The move comes a day after China canceled a visit to Beijing by Japan's foreign minister and amid a newly released public opinion poll that shows Japanese evenly split in support of Koizumi's pilgrimage despite the international outcry." Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 05:58 AM | Comments (0)

Korea 's Foreign Minister Postpones Visit to Japan: Why?

The Korea Times reported today that Ban Ki-moon, South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, told journalist October 18, 2005 that that a visit by him to Japan is not appropriate ``at the moment".

"Ban had been expected to visit Japan later this month," The Times said.
.
The publication said "his remarks came as South Korea strongly criticizes [Japanese] Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for his recent visit to a controversial shrine in Tokyo, which includes memorials to convicted war criminals."

``Even though the two sides had discussed my visit to Japan, the schedule had not been decided, Ban told reporters at a weekly press briefing, according to The Times. ``I think the mood is not good to seek a visit at the moment."

Ban "also said that President Roh Moo-hyun's plans to visit Japan in December have not been decided either." the paper added. Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 05:45 AM | Comments (0)

October 18, 2005

Did Judith Miller Witness Interrogation of Muhammad Salah?

Chicago Sun-Times reporters Annie Sweeney and Lisa Donovan reported October 18, 2005 that "In an odd twist," the Israeli interrogation of Bridgeview, Illinois " used car salesman" Muhammad Salah "was witnessed by embattled New York Times reporter Judith Miller, and defense attorneys suggested Monday [October 17, 2005] the best way for the U.S. government to prove its case -- and prove Salah wasn't abused -- is to call the controversial journalist to the witness stand."

"We think the government is going to call her," they quoted Chicago defense attorney Michael E. Deutsch as saying.

The reporters said, "A message left for Miller -- author of the book God Has Ninety-Nine Names: Reporting From a Militant Middle East -- at the New York Times on Monday [October 17, 2005] was not returned. "A spokesman for U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who subpoenaed Miller to testify in the leak of a CIA agent's name and whose office is prosecuting Salah, declined to comment on whether Miller might be called to testify in the case," the noted.

For more, please see "N.Y. Times reporter could testify for suspect."

Get a blog and explain yourself, Judy.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:59 PM | Comments (0)

Iraq Rated Most Corrupt Country in the Middle East

Occupied Iraq scored 2.2 marks out of 10 to earn the label of the most corrupt country in the Middle East, according to Transparency International's (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index for 2005.

Weren't we told that the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq would end corruption and human rights abuses, among other things?

Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:34 PM | Comments (0)

Will Trial Expose How Westen Governments Helped Saddam Thrive?

"Saddam's trial should also expose the foreign powers that helped to set up and sustain his murderous regime, and the banquet of corruption at which scores of politicians, diplomats, intellectuals and businessmen, some from Europe and the United States, supped with the devil," argues Amir Taheri, in guess column analysis in the October 19, 2005 edition of The Times Online. He added:

An Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations has resigned after being charged with receiving illegal kickbacks from Saddam. One of Frances most senior diplomats is in prison on a similar charge. A former French Home Secretary, several members of the Russian parliament and a dozen Arab media figures have also been exposed.

Mr. Taheri said, "In the three decades that Saddam dominated Iraq he had almost $200 billion in oil revenues not only to finance three large-scale wars and kill hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, but also to buy influence in the West. Part of that investment may be bearing fruit as the chorus of his admirers, led by the French, raises its voice." Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:21 PM | Comments (0)

The Unusually High Numbers of Yes Votes in 12 Iraqi Provinces

Christian Iraq.Com told its readers today that "Iraqi election officials are investigating what they say are unusually high numbers of yes votes in about 12 provinces from Saturday's [October 15, 2005] referendum on a new constitution." Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:06 PM | Comments (0)

Voting Tallies in Iraq

Informed Comment proprietor Professor Juan Cole comments on voting tallies in Iraq in an October 18, 2005 post. He said, in part:

The Washington spinmeisters who are trying to say that the mere fact of the Sunnis voting [in Iraq for the constitution drafted by the U.S.] is a good thing, even if they voted against the constitution, do no know what they are talking about. Political participation is not always a positive thing. The Nazis after all were elected to the Reichstag. And Serbs consistently voted for Milosevic and other ultra-nationalists. Nobody in Washington thought it positive that Iranian hardliners came out in some numbers to vote for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Mr. Cole said, "Some elections are tragedies for a nation. This constitutional referendum was one of them." Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:58 PM | Comments (0)

China Hopes Rumsfeld's Beijing Vist Increase Mutual Trust

"China hopes US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's visit will help increase mutual understanding and trust, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan in Beijing Tuesday [October 18, 2005]," People's Daily Online reported today.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:43 PM | Comments (0)

Lakshman Kadirgamar's Assassination Still Unsolved

Despite being convinced that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka assassinated Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on August 12, 2005, Sri Lankan officials still have not proven it. Consequently, the government is extending the state of emergency imposed as a result of the widely condemned killing.

"We want to extend these emergency regulations because we have still not finished the inquiry into the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar," Deputy Defence Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said "as parliament voted to extend the state of emergency for another month," according to Reuters.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:35 PM | Comments (0)

The Australian: 'Racism Begins at Home in Asia: Peters'

The Australian newspaper says Winston Peters, New Zealand's "new Foreign Minister in Prime Minister Helen Clark's third Labour-led" administration," "thinks he will get on fabulously with Asian leaders because, like him, they think it is an outrageous mistake to let too many immigrants alter a country's ethnic make-up." Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:19 PM | Comments (0)

China, Japan Still Feuding Over East China Sea Gas

"Japan and China appear headed for a showdown over natural gas exploration and drilling in the East China Sea," reports J. Sean Curtin in an October 18, 2005 Asia Times Online article.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:03 PM | Comments (0)

Caribbean Leaders Seek Support for Regional Bloc

On November 15, 2005 St. Lucia Prime Minister Kenneth Anthony, Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur and Guyana President Bharrat Jagdeo will hold talks in Guyana with "regional opposition leaders, Bruce Golding of Jamaica, Edison James of Dominica and Robert Corbin of Guyana," Robert Persaud, Guyana's government spokesman has announced, according to The Daily Journal of Venezuela.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:57 PM | Comments (0)

Rich Nations Still Benefitting From Caribbean Brain-drain

Sir Ronald Sanders, a former Caribbean diplomat turned corporate executive and columnist noted in an October 18, 2005 Caribbean Net News column that:

In a report that should deeply trouble the Caribbean, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reveals that a majority of Caribbean countries have lost more than 50 percent of its people who have been educated beyond secondary school. They have migrated to the countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the worlds.

Mr. Sanders added: "The report says, for example, that the tertiary educated labour force (people with more than 12 years of schooling) has been reduced by 89 percent in Jamaica and 82 percent in Guyana." Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:48 PM | Comments (0)

Latin America, China Boosting Ties

Jane Bussey of Knight Ridder Newspapers contends that, "the ties that bind Latin economies to the rest of the world no longer run just north-south."

"China's burgeoning appetite for raw materials and quest for export markets has sparked a boom in south-south trade, as the world's fastest-growing developing country courts its Latin American counterparts, engendering both anticipation and alarm," she wrote in an October 16, 2005 report.

For more, please see "China courts Latin nations in quest for raw materials."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:39 PM | Comments (0)

Liberia May Face Presidential Run-off November 8

The East African Standard of Kenya reported October 17, 2005 that, "Liberians will go to the polls again on November 8 for a run-off presidential vote if soccer great George Weah's lead remains too narrow to win outright in the first round, the elections commission" said October 17, 2005. Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:39 AM | Comments (0)

'Getting Burned With Fire: Liberia's Decision,' an Analysis

Boto K. Bradford of the Liberian Observer has published an analysis of Liberia's presidential elections headlined "Getting Burned With Fire Liberia's Decision." I found it thought-provoking.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:33 AM | Comments (0)

Did Liberia's Election Results Dash Charles Taylor's Hopes?

"Hopes that former Liberian president Charles Taylor's party would perform well on his behalf have been dashed by early results from last week's vote, which could undermine his vow to return to Liberia instead of facing war-crimes charges," the Mail & Guardian of South Africa reports.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:27 AM | Comments (0)

Is Judith Miller a Reporter/Government Agent?

Village Voice reporter James Ridgeway said October 17, 2005 that, "Among the surprising revelations in New York Times reporter Judith Miller's own account Sunday [October 16, 2005] of her activities in the Plame leak case was an admission that she had been given a security clearance while embedded with a military unit searching for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq."

Like other bloggers and journalists, I found Miller's revelation surprising. Does this mean that Miller is a government agent as well as a Times reporter?

Here's more of Ridgeway's report.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 12:09 AM | Comments (0)

October 17, 2005

Washington Post: 'Cheney's Office Is A Focus in Leak Case'

The Washington Post reports in its October 18, 2005 edition that:

As the investigation into the leak of a CIA agent's name hurtles to an apparent conclusion, special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald has zeroed in on the role of Vice President Cheney's office, according to lawyers familiar with the case and government officials.

Post reporters Jim VandeHei and Walter Pincus said, "The prosecutor has assembled evidence that suggests Cheney's long-standing tensions with the CIA contributed to the unmasking of operative Valerie Plame Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)

Prodi Picked to Challenge Berlusconi in Next Italian Election

On October 16, 2005, Romano Prodi was the winner "of Italy's first ever primary vote to select a candidate for a general election," according to EuroNews.

Mr. Prodi "was overwhelmingly backed by the electorate to lead the centre-left challenge to oust Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. That showdown is due by next May," the publication said. Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:39 AM | Comments (0)

Der Spiegel Interviews Chancellor-in Waiting Angela Merkel

Spiegel Online has an interview with German Chancellor-in-waiting Angela Merkel. "I am Immune to the Seduction of Power," she declares in the interview. Time will tell.

Also see "Taking Stock of Gerhard Schroder."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:30 AM | Comments (0)

If Fitzgerald Issues Indictments in the CIA Leak Investigation

Stephen F. Hayes notes in the October 24, 2005 edition of The Weekly Standard that:

FOR TWO YEARS, THE political class in Washington has followed with intense interest the story of Joseph Wilson and the events that led to the compromising of his wife's identity and undercover status as a CIA operative. The rest of the country seems to have responded with a collective yawn. That will soon change if special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald issues indictments of senior White House aides in his investigation of the alleged leaking of Mrs. Wilson's name.

There is a reason that Karl Rove, President Bush's Brain, and Irving Lewis "Scooter" Libby Jr., Vice-President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, are worried. Fitzgerald is noted for securing indictments.

In fact, Rove has made four appearances before the Grand Jury. The last was a four-hour appearance on October 14, 2005. Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 02:43 AM | Comments (0)

Irving Lewis "Scooter" Libby is in Trouble

Reuters Correspondent Adam Entous reported October 15, 2005 that,

Vice President Dick Cheney's top aide could face obstruction charges over whether he tried to shape a New York Times reporter's testimony about the outing of a covert CIA operative, people close to the case said on Sunday [October 15, 2005].

Scooter Libby deserves to be indicted if he tried to influence Judith Miller's grand jury testimony. I think hubris has finally gotten the best of Libby and the rest of the Bush Administration crowd who got us into a senseless war in Iraq.

Trying to sell a bogus rationale for the invasion and silencing critics of the war is what led someone in the Bush crowd to blow CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson's cover, and then try to cover it up. It was done to punish her husband, Joseph C. Wilson, for publicly debunking the Bush rationale for the war. Hence, the CIA leak investigation.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 02:39 AM | Comments (0)

Is Cronyism and Failure of Leadership Plaguing The Times?

William E. Jackson, Jr, who "writes a column on the press and national security for "Editor & Publisher Online, made this revealing observation at The Huffington Post in an article headlined "The Satrapy at West 43rd: One Armchair Critic's Disillusionment On The Eve of Full Disclosure:

The Times has been my daily companion for half a century, as I studied, taught, and practiced politics and foreign policy. Anyone who knows me would testify that I have been a proselytizer for the Gray Lady out in the country where I grew up, as a college prof requiring my students to read it, and as a government official who relied upon it for "first draft" reporting on the events of our time. I often leaked scoops to its reporters, from Washington to Moscow to Johannesburg. I read and drew inspiration from Harrison Salisbury's "Without Fear or Favor;" Gay Talese's "The Kingdom and the Power;" David Halberstam's "The Powers That Be;" and Max Frankel's "The Times of My Life and My Life with The Times."

But, alas, this premier news outlet for America and the world appears to be going up in the flames of cronyism with a corresponding failure of leadership. I make no apologies for my strong indictment on the eve of the full story that Bill Keller has promised--no matter what his able reporters and editors may weigh in with after two-plus years.Reading Jackson's piece reminds me of my relationship with The Times. I've read each of the books he mentions above. I've also read William Proctor's "The Gospel According to The New York Times".

In addition, I read Howell Raines' "My Soul Is Rested: Movement Days in the Deep South Remembered." This book convinced me that covering the civilrights movement was like covering a revolution in a foreign country.

Then there was Richard F. Shepard's "The Paper's Paper: A Reporter's Journey Through the Archives of The New York Times." As I read this book, I felt as if I were digging through The Times archives.

In addition to being a serious student of the history of The Times, I've read the paper for at least five days a week since the 1970s. Salim Muwakkil at In These Times convinced me that I should. We worked together at Muhammad Speaks newspaper in Chicago, at the time. I've been hooked on The Times ever since.

Of course, I didn't buy everything in The Times. I often felt that some of its reporters were either CIA agents or CIA assets. They often seemed too cozy with the intelligence community, just as Judy Miller is a bit too cozy with certain officials in the Bush Administration. But what truly made me suspicious of the The Times longstanding ties with the CIA was its participation in what Jeff Cohen, founder of FAIR, called the "triple-barreled attack" on the late San Jose Mercury News reporter Gary Webb. The Times, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times vehemently attacked Webb's Dark Alliance series in the Mercury News, which argued that the CIA helped initiate the crack epidemic in Los Angeles during the 1980s to fund the Contras in Nicaragua.

Before this, I had never heard of major newspapers turning on a fellow reporter with such vehemence. But thanks to the Internet, The Times and its partners in the Webb credibility assassination can never erase what Webb wrote. Nor can Judy Miller escape from what she wrote about so-called Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq. Nor can any of us avoid what we've posted online. Whereas Frank Wisner, former director of the CIA's Office of Special Projects, use to boast about cranking up the "Mighty Wurlitzer" to spread CIA propaganda, now the average citizen, thanks to the Internet, can challenge the Mighty Wurlitzer, of which The Times is a part, if he or she chooses to do so.

More specifically, The Times and other establishment papers took part directly or indirectly in "Operation Mockingbird," a CIA operation that, as noted in Wikipedia, was set up "to influence domestic and foreign media." It was "discovered during the Church Committee investigation in 1975."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 02:33 AM | Comments (0)

Judith Miller May Be History at The New York Times

After reading "The Miller Case: A Notebook, a Cause, a Jail Cell and a Deal" and Judith Miller's "My Four Hours Testifying in the Federal Grand Jury Room" on The New York Times website, I concluded that Judith Miller is history at The New York Times. Why? It was the following paragraphs from "The Miller Case..."

On Tuesday, Ms. Miller is to receive a First Amendment award from the Society of Professional Journalists. She said she thought she would write a book about her experiences in the leak case, although she added that she did not yet have a book deal. She also plans on taking some time off but says she hopes to return to the newsroom.

She said she hopes to cover "the same thing I've always covered - threats to our country."

The Times incurred millions of dollars in legal fees in Ms. Miller's case. It limited its own ability to cover aspects of one of the biggest scandals of the day. Even as the paper asked for the public's support, it was unable to answer its questions.This conclusion is reinforced by John Byrne and Jason Leopold at Raw Story. They said in an October 14, 2005 article that "Miller, who spent 85 days in jail protecting her source in the recent CIA leak investigation, will take an indefinite leave of absence effective immediately."

"Judy is going to take some time off until we decide what she is doing next," they said Times' spokesperson Catherine Mathis told RAW STORY Saturday afternoon.

"RAW STORY spoke with Miller by telephone at the New York Times newsroom in Washington Friday evening. She said that she had not previously been questioned about her plans going forward, and deferred extended comment to her publicist."

Publisher Arthur Sutlzberger and Executive Editor Bill Keller are asking for trouble if Miller, who seems to have had free-reign, is allowed to return. Morale is bad enough. Judy in the newsroom will only compound The Times problems.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 02:27 AM | Comments (0)

Who Will Lead Liberia?

The Vanguard of Nigeria, in an October 16, 2005 article headlined "Liberian elections and the making of a Weah phenomenon," rightly concluded that, "The successful conduct" of the October 11, 2005 presidential election in Liberia "is only a first step." The publication added:

The task before the next president is enormous. He has to fix public utilities, heal wounds, promote social interaction, repair the economy and galvanise the populate for competition on the global plane. If the truth be told, there are liabilities for the two leading candidates. [Ellen] Johnson-Sirleaf, an Americo-Liberian is likely to evoke memories of the dark past when the indigenous population was suppressed. She is largely seen as part of the old order who only opposed [former president Samuel Kanyon] Doe because he sacked the Tipotech regime on which she served. [George] Weah too is challenged by the limits of his experience. It is one thing to be a successful footballer, mean very well for the people, be selfless and appealing to the young ones, and another to rule a country like Liberia.

How much of the budgeting process does he know?

How many world leaders would readily accept him?

"How appealing would his presidency be to the political pillars who should serve as pillars of the republic? In another month, the picture would be very clear. Then, it could be said that Liberia is in the race for recognition in the comity of free nations.Some of Liberia's elites seem to be ashamed of Weah, the politician, for the reasons cited above..

Posted by Munir Umrani at 12:13 AM | Comments (0)

October 16, 2005

A Hard Road Still Ahead in Iraq

According to Glenn Kessler at The Washington Post, "For the Bush administration, the apparent approval of Iraq's constitution is less of a victory than yet another chance to possibly fashion a political solution that does not result in the bloody division of Iraq." Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:27 PM | Comments (0)

How Many Turned Out to Vote on Iraqi Constitution?

Christian Iraq. Com reports that, "Election officials in Iraq say as many as 65 percent of eligible voters may have turned out to vote in Saturday's [October 15, 2005] referendum on the country's draft constitution." Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:19 PM | Comments (0)

Free Iraq's Commentary on Iraqi Constitution

Free Iraq has provocative commentary on the Iraqi constitutional referendum. It's worth reading.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:15 PM | Comments (0)

What Has Passed in Iraq, and What Does it Mean?

Professor Juan Cole at Informed Comment has a guest editorial by Andrew Arato, Dorothy Hart Hirshon Professor of Political and Social Theory at the New School for Social Research, on the Iraqi constitution referendum. According to Arato:

We can now assume that in Saturday's referendum the 2/3 negative votes will not be attained in a third, Sunni majority province, and that the Constitutional Proposal submitted to the Iraqi people has passed. It is now going to be Iraq's Constitution, with international recognition. But what has passed, and what does it mean?

Here's Arato's attempt to answer the question.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:54 PM | Comments (0)

Bush, Rice and the Iraqi Constitutional Referendum

Helena Cobban at Just World News has a good roundup of some of the things that happened on October 16, 2005 regarding "the Iraqi constitutional referendum."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:44 PM | Comments (0)

Why Weren't Iraqi Expatriates Allowed to Vote on the Constitution?

On October 15, 2005, River Bend at Baghdad Burning made the following observation about Iraqis voting for an American-crafted constitution for Iraq:

American media is trying to make it sound like Sunnis have suddenly been mollified with the changes made in a flurry of covert meetings these last few days, but the reality is that the only Sunni party openly supporting the constitution is the Iraqi Islamic Party which represents a very, very small percentage of Sunnis. Most educated Iraqis want to vote against the constitution. This makes the fact that Iraqis abroad aren't being allowed to vote this time around worrisome. Why was it vital for them to vote for a temporary government back in January but its not necessary for them to contribute to this referendum which will presumably decide a permanent constitution for generations and generations of Iraqis? Could it be that the current Iranian inclined government knew that many Iraqis abroad didn't like the constitution because of federalism, women's rights, and the mention of no laws to be placed which contradict Islam?Iraqis are going to be voting according to religious clerics and, in some areas, tribal sheikhs.

They aren't going to be voting according to their convictions or their understanding of what is supposed to be a document that will set the stage for Iraqi laws and regulations," River Bend said. Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:30 PM | Comments (0)

October 14, 2005

Ghazi Kenaan Buried in Syria

Former Syrian Intelligence Minister Ghazi Kenaan was laid to rest today in a low key funeral, according to The Daily Star of Lebanon.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:38 AM | Comments (0)

More Questions About Ghazi Kanaan's Death

Joshua Landis at Syria Comment.Com stated in an October 13, 2005 post: "It is becoming clearer that Ghazi Kanaan's death was not related to the Mehlis report or Lebanon-Syria relations, as I speculated yesterday. One good reporter I heard from today said they are "hearing Kanaan was tried in-camera and executed."

It sounds plausible to me. Here's more.

Editor's Note: The links above were not in the original report.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:33 AM | Comments (0)

Is the Purported al-Zawahiri Letter to al-Zarqawi a Forgery?

Professor Juan Cole at Informed Comment tells in an October 14, 2005 post why "The Arabic text of the recently released letter alleged to be by Zawahiri (al-Qaeda's number two man) to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq raises questions for me as to its authenticity."

Read his explanation here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:22 AM | Comments (0)

October 13, 2005

Weah, Johnson-Sirleaf May be Headed for Run-off in Liberia

"Early results from Liberia's first post-war elections showed on Thursday [October 13, 2005] that soccer star George Weah and former Finance Minister Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf may face a second-round run-off," according to Reuters. Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:41 AM | Comments (0)

How Arab News Reported Ghazi Kanaan's Alleged Suicide

"People all over the Arab world were shocked yesterday after hearing the news that Syrian Interior Minister Ghazi Kanaan, who headed his country's military intelligence in Lebanon for two decades, had committed suicide," according to Arab News' Dahi Hassan & Barbara Ferguson. Here's their report.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:35 AM | Comments (0)

As'ad: 'Arab Officials Don't Commit Suicide...'

Professor As'ad AbuKhalil over at The Angry Arab News Service said in an October 12, 2005 post that, "Arab officials don't commit suicide (although they are on occasion made to commit suicide)." Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:30 AM | Comments (0)

Helena Cobban Looks at 'Suicide' and Uncertainty' in Syria

Helena Cobban at Just world News, who lived and worked in the Middle East as a journalist for several years, commented on the death former Syrian Interior Minister Brigadier General Ghazi Kenaan in an article headlined "Syria: 'suicide' and uncertainty." Her question: Is this suicide?" is valid in the wake the bombings and assassinations in Lebanon in recent months.

Mr. Kenaan served in Lebanon for more than 20-years.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:22 AM | Comments (0)

Ghazi Kanaan's Death: Was it Suicide? Was it Murder?

Could Syrian Interior Minister Brigadier General Ghazi Kenaan "have been assassinated in order to prevent him from challenging [Syrian President Bashar [al-Assad? We may never know, but it is possible.

That's one of the many questions that Syria Comment.com proprietor Joshua Landis, who is in Syria on a Fulbright Scholarship, asked in an October 12, 2005 post headlined "Ghazi Kanaan - the Most Senior Alawi - Suicide? Or was it Murder?"

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency,"Interior Minister Brigadier General Ghazi Kenaan committed suicide in his office before noon [October 12, 2005]. Authorities are carrying out the necessary investigation into the incident."

I highly recommend Landis' analysis.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:36 AM | Comments (0)

October 12, 2005

South Africa's Zuma to Go On Trial in 2006

Former [South African] deputy president Jacob Zuma's trial date has been set for July 31 next year in the Durban High Court, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Wednesday [October 12, 2005], according to the Independent Online.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:45 AM | Comments (0)

What if George Weah Win's Liberia's Presidential Election

Back on September 25, 2005, Kevin Mitchell of The Observer of London wrote: "The chances are that the citizens of Liberia, the west African hellhole riven by civil war and hopelessness, will soon entrust their immediate future to a retired footballer who has a wooden throne in his office and is happy to be called King George." He added:

George Weah grew up in a hut on a reclaimed swamp on Bushrod Island in the capital, Monrovia. He was raised by his grandmother before leaving to score spectacular goals for some of Europe's most glamorous clubs and amass a considerable fortune. Ten years ago, he was hailed as the finest player in the world. Now he is returning from his home in Florida and, on 11 October, will be one of 22 presidential candidates in his country's first free elections after 14 years of tribal fighting that have claimed at least 250,000 lives.

Weah has no political experience and is mocked by his rivals as naive and minimally educated. He resents the slur and goes to great lengths to impress journalists with his grandiloquence. Yet the people love him. That a country deprived of food and freedom for so long should turn to a footballer to save them says much about the desperation of the people, 85 per cent of whom have no work.A Liberian friend of mine is incensed that Mr. Weah could emerge as Liberia's next president. I wonder what he and others will do if Mr. Weah wins in what is essentially a democratic election.

For The Observer's article on Mr. Weah, please see :"A great goal." Also see James Seitua's"From Disqualified Football Candidate to Commander-In-Chief: Will Liberians Clap For This, Too?"

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:37 AM | Comments (0)

Liberia's Election Results to be Announced No Later Than October 25

The Liberian Observer reports that, "The National Elections Commission [of Liberia] plans to announce results" of the October 11, 2005 voting for president "no later than Wednesday, October 26, 2005." Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:23 AM | Comments (0)

Liberians Anxiously Await Results of October 11 Elections

Nick Tattersall of Reuters reported today that, "Euphoria turned to nervous anticipation in Liberia on Wednesday [October 12, 2005] as election officials using battery-powered lanterns counted ballots through the night from the country's first postwar polls."

For more, please see "Liberians nervously await result of landmark polls."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:16 AM | Comments (0)

The Ghanaian Chronicle: Voting Went Well in Liberia

The Ghanaian Chronicle of West Africa reported October 12, 2005 that, "Voting in Liberia ended at 1800 hours (GMT) yesterday after a massive turn-out that showed the determination of the people to vote for peace so as to rebuild their shattered nation after years of ethnic and political conflict that killed some 200,000 and destroyed property and infrastructure." Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:58 AM | Comments (0)

How Did Angela Merkel Get to the Top?

Ralf Neukirch of Der Spiegel, in an October 11, 2005 article headlined "Merkel's Surprising Rise to the Top," wrote:

Even when she became the leader of the conservatives, few people -- including many within her own party -- took her seriously. All luck, they said. But now, Angela Merkel is set to become Germany's first ever woman chancellor and has left all her political opponents in the dust. How did she do it?

Good question. Here's Neukirch's answer.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:51 AM | Comments (0)

U.S. Doesn't Expect Ties With Germany to Change Under Merkel

On October 11, 2005, Adam Ereli, the deputy spokesman for the U.S. Department of state, engaged in the following exchange with a reporter about Germany and its new chancellor:

QUESTION: Excuse me. Any comment on the outcome of the German political election, and also is there any hope in Washington that at least the atmospherics of the bilateral relationship might improve with the new Chancellor?

MR. ERELI: Oh, I wouldn't agree with the premise of the second part of that question. I think our bilateral elections -- our bilateral relations are excellent. Germany in so many ways is a bedrock and fundamental partner of the United States, no matter who's the chancellor or what government is in power. Clearly, there have been developments over the weekend in Germany. We congratulate Angela Merkel on being designated as Chancellor.

We also note that formal coalition negotiations will begin on October 17th. We welcome the announcement that those negotiations will begin and we look forward to working with the German Chancellor and the government that is formed to improve what I characterized as a bedrock partnership.

Here's the entire transcript of the State Department's October 11 daily briefing.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:07 AM | Comments (0)

The Christian Science Monitor on Angela Merkel

The Christian Science Monitor, one of the most prestigious newspapers in the United States, opined in an October 12, 2005 editorial that:

"Angela Merkel has two "firsts" to her name. The soon-to-be leader of Germany will be its first female chancellor, and its first who grew up in communist East Germany. Oddly, she's never made much of either first. For Germany's sake, she should.

Question: How can she have made much of being the first female chancellor?. She just got the job. For more, please see "Merkel's misguided modesty."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 05:50 AM | Comments (0)

October 11, 2005

Bloomberg Wisely Treated Bomb Reports as Credible

New York Newsday says Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York continues "to insist the city didn't overreact" to reports that attacks on New York subways would take place this past weekend. Some say it was a hoax. I think Bloomberg was right to act as if the reports were credible.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 10:00 PM | Comments (0)

Is China's Economic Clout Causing Taiwan to be Ignored?

Chin-Hao Huang, "executive director of the Georgetown International Relations Association, Inc, a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC," said in an October 8, 2005 "Speaking Freely" column at Asia Times Online that:

Following hard on the heels of Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to New York last month to attend the United Nations summit, Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian has been on a whirlwind tour, visiting eight countries across three continents in less than two weeks.

"He claimed that it was a diplomatic breakthrough, but in light of the highly anticipated Bush-Hu meeting in New York, few in Washington even took note of Chen's visit," Mr. Chin noted. "However, rather than engaging in highly critical rhetoric against Beijing during a Miami stopover, Chen adopted a more subtle and pragmatic diplomatic approach to mend fences with Washington."

You do the pragmatic thing when you've been eclipsed. Here's the entire article.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:22 PM | Comments (0)

Three-phase Egyptian Elections Start November 9

On October 10, 2005, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced that general elections will get underway in Egypt on November 9, 2005. The election will be in three phases. Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:07 PM | Comments (0)

What is Sharon's Post Disengagement Strategy

Al-Ahram's Graham Usher offers an informative analysis of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's strategy following Israel's recent disengagement from the Gaza Strip. It's worth reading.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:00 PM | Comments (0)

Relations Between Syria, Lebanon Deteriorates Further

Ya Libnan (O Lebanon) reported October 11, 2005 that, "Relationship between Syria and Lebanon deteriorates further. Syria is openly showing that it is 'very angry' with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and MP Walid Jumblatt has called [Syrian President Bashar] Assad 'childish,'"the publication said. Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:46 PM | Comments (0)

The Devolution of Iraq

"Many commentators are writing about the process involved in the present Iraq draft constitution being one of "federalizing democratization" or "democratizing federalism"," notes Helena Cobban in an October 11, 2005 post at Just World News. "It is no such thing," the contributing editor of Boston Review said, adding:

To federate means "to come together for joint action". It is what happens when functioning, pre-existing states come together in a strong way, pooling many aspects of their sovereignty into a broader, federated union... Like the 13 US states, in 1787, after they found that their previous "articles of confederation" were too weak. Or the "United Arab Emirates": 7 small existing states that came together in the early 1970s to pool their respective capabilities.

What the present draft constitution proposes for Iraq is the exact opposite. It is the breakup of many key attributes of Iraqi sovereignty and their division among a still unknown number of smaller, new sub-entities. It is incorrect to call this process "federation"; it is more rightly called devolution.Ms. Cobban said, "What the present draft constitution proposes for Iraq is a breakup very similar to what happened with the breakup of Bosnia into ethnically distinct sub-entities, or the partition of India into India and Pakistan, or the still-continuing breakup of the previous "Soviet Russian Federation", including in Chechnya." Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:27 PM | Comments (0)

River Bend's 'Constitution Conversations'

River Bend at Baghdad Burning opined in an October 3, 2005 post that:

What is more disturbing is the fact that most of the people who do want to vote, will vote for or against the constitution based not on personal convictions, but on the fatwas and urgings of both Sunni and Shia clerics. The Association of Muslim Scholars is encouraging people to vote against it, and SCIRI and Daawa are declaring a vote for the constitution every Muslims duty. Its hardly shocking that Sistani is now approving it and encouraging his followers to vote for it. (If I were an Iranian cleric living in south Iraq, Id vote for it too!)It is utterly frustrating to talk to someone about the referendum- whether they are Sunni or Shia or Kurd- and know that even before they've read the constitution properly, they've decided what they are going to vote.Women's rights aren't a primary concern for anyone, anymore. People actually laugh when someone brings up the topic. Lets keep Iraq united first... is often the response when I comment about the prospect of Iranian-style Sharia.

River Bend said, "Rights and freedoms have become minor concerns compared to the possibility of civil war, the reality of ethnic displacement and cleansing, and the daily certainty of bloodshed and death."

Her analysis of people's attitudes towards the constitution is quite informative. I recommend it.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:13 PM | Comments (0)

U.S. Continues to Tamper With Constitution it Drafted for Iraqis

Professor Juan Cole at Informed Comment said October 11, 2005 that, Zalmay Khalilzad, the US ambassador to Iraq, "continues to dicker with the big politicians seeking final alterations in the [proposed Iraqi] constitution before it is voted on Saturday October 15, [2005] in hopes of making a breakthrough that would mollify the Sunni Arabs." He added:

The latter, however, according to al-Hayat, are most concerned by provisions allowing the southern Shiite provinces to establish confederacies that would have a special claim on petroleum resources (thus cutting Sunni Arabs out of their fair share, since they currently have none in their area). There is no prospect of this provision being changed, so Khalilzad's negotiations will probably not have a big effect on the referendum. The fact of the talks, however, does discourage many voters, according to Ellen Knickmeyer of the WaPo [The Washington Post].

"They are convinced that if the text can be changed so near the vote, when so few have even seen the original text, it means that the big politicians will do as they please without regard to the country's charter," Mr. Cole wrote. "That is, Khalilzad's last-minute negotiations may be doing more harm than good."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:51 PM | Comments (0)

Landis: 'What is American Planning for Syria?'

Joshua Landis at Syria Comment.Com asks: "What is American Planning for Syria?" He's attempts to provide an answer in three articles.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:41 AM | Comments (0)

Poland's Presidential Vote Now in the Second Round

"The first round of Polish presidential elections mirrored last month's parliamentary vote, with two right-leaning candidates winning by a large margin," according to Lucia Kubosova at EUobserver.com. "But the position of the winning parties has changed, with the relatively moderate Donald Tusk of the Civic Platform coming in first, followed by the more conservative Lech Kaczynski from the Law and Justice party." Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:37 AM | Comments (0)

Britan to Rush Through Ban on 15 Muslim Organizations: Why?

Richard Ford, Home Correspondent for Times Online of London, reported October 11, 2005 that,"Fifteen international Islamic terrorist groups are to be banned under the Governments anti-terrorism laws, the Home Office announced.

Mr. Ford said, "Charles Clarke will rush through the order outlawing membership and fundraising for the extremist groups. The Home Office said it was believed all the organizations had links to al-Qaeda. Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:31 AM | Comments (0)

Koizumi's Postal Reform Legislation Passes House

The Asahi Shimbun of Japan reported October 11, 2005 that, "Bills to privatize the nation's postal services passed the Lower House on Tuesday, paving the way for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to pursue his reform agenda."

"The six bills passed by a wide margin because of the ruling coalition's absolute majority in the lower chamber following the September 11 [2005] election," the publication said. "Votes for the bills totaled 338 with 138 against." Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:25 AM | Comments (0)

Unwanted African Migrants

Spain doesn't want more Africans, especially those seeking economic refuge, in its territory and nor does Morocco. In fact, according to the an October 10, 2005 BBC report, the Moroccans have "sent the first of several planes full of illegal West African migrants to Senegal."

"The migrants accuse Morocco's security forces of ill-treating them," the BBC reported, noting that, "The flight with 140 migrants arrived from Oujda, near the Algerian border.
Hundreds of migrants were dumped there after trying to enter or being expelled from Spanish enclaves in North Africa," the report said. Here's more.

Also see "Morocco criticized for dumping migrants in desert without food." This article on Spain's position on African migrants and the United Nation's response puts the issue into perspective.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:18 AM | Comments (0)

Prodi Takes on Berlusconi

Is Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, President George W. Bush's most loyal ally in Europe after Britain's Anthony Blair, in political trouble?

It's hard to tell for certain but Camilla Lai, a Reuters correspondent in Rome, noted today that, "Opposition leader Romano Prodi accused Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Sunday [October 9, 2005] of wrecking Italy's finances and international reputation as he effectively kicked off his campaign to win a 2006 general election."

"At a packed rally," Ms. Lai wrote, "he also said Berlusconi's government wanted to cheat the center-left of victory by changing Italy's electoral rules." Mr. Prodi told "up to 100,000 flag-waving sympathizers at a sun-drenched city center-square":

The ruling coalition promised miracles and produced disasters. Italy and the Italians deserve better.

According to Ms. Lai, Mr. Prodi was "flanked by the leaders of opposition parties who have pledged to unite to unseat Berlusconi, who has been in office for four years."

"Elections are due by next May, with opinion polls making the center-left the firm favorite." she noted.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:06 AM | Comments (0)

Kathimerini Looks at 'Political Ethos, Made in Germany

The Athens, Greece-based newspaper Kathimerini said October 11, 2005 that, "Formal negotiations on Germany's grand coalition government between Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, who won a tissue-thin victory at the September 18 elections, and the Social Democrats of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will continue into next week. That was to be expected as the makeup of the future Cabinet, a relatively small group featuring politicians with different ideological backgrounds, is not some minor, procedural detail."

"Regardless of the outcome of the negotiations," Kathimerini told readers, "Germany's two mainstream political parties have already displayed a strong degree of political responsibility. Their attempt to join hands in order to push the necessary reforms to revitalize the faltering German economy demonstrates that they have put the public good above narrow partisan interest."

For more, please see "Political ethos, made in Germany."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:49 AM | Comments (0)

Der Spiegel: 'Merkel Will Lead But Social Democrats Remain Strong'

Carsten Volkery and Severin Weiland, writing in the October 10, 2005 edition of Der Spiegel Online, said:

Angela Merkel has arrived. Almost. There's only one hurdle remaining between the leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union and the chancellery -- a parliamentary vote. Nevertheless, on Monday [October 10, 2005] it became clear that, sometime next month, she will almost certainly become the first female chancellor in German history. She could have raised her hands in a show of victory, but instead she stayed true to her nature.

They noted that, " For this woman from Germany's often cool and reserved north, showy displays of emotion just aren't on message."Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 05:50 AM | Comments (0)

German Press Opinion on Chancellor Merkel

"German newspapers called Angela Merkel's announcement that she will be the country's next chancellor an historic moment, but said she faced a tough time leading a left-right coalition," Deutsche Welle said in an October 11, 2005 roundup of press opinion on Ms. Merkel.

Also see "Kohl's Girl" Makes Good" and "Grand Coalition a Delicate Balancing Act.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 05:40 AM | Comments (0)

October 07, 2005

Turkey is in the Waiting Room

"Turkey was ushered into the European Union's waiting room this week. No country has yet left emptyhanded, but Turkey will have to wait until at least 2014 before the door is opened to full membership of the EU," according to The Christian Science Monitor.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:49 AM | Comments (0)

Trying to Coverup Bad Policy in Iraq

During an October 6, 2005 White House Press Briefing, press secretary Scott McClellan answered a number of questions including many on terrorism and the Bush Administration's ongoing effort to justify the war in Iraq. Here are excerpts:

Q: Scott, all this talk about a radical Islamic empire stretching from Europe across to southeast Asia, even some Republicans are saying that it has the appearance of the President trying to cover up bad policy in Iraq by unduly alarming people.

MR. McCLELLAN: I haven't heard any Republicans say that. Do you have one in mind?

Q: A couple in mind, yes.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, do you want to share them with me?

Q: You can call them and ask them, but I'm just wondering what you think of that?
MR. McCLELLAN: I -- you made a statement. I haven't heard any Republican make such allegation. So I was just wondering where that came from.

Q Part of the eight. (Laughter.)

Q: What's your response to the allegation that you're trying to cover up bad policy in Iraq by unduly alarming people?
MR. McCLELLAN: It's an allegation by John Roberts.

Q: Pardon me?

MR. McCLELLAN: Are you saying it's an allegation by John Roberts?

Q: It's not my allegation, no.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, go and look at what the President said in his remarks. Today's speech is one in a series of speeches that the President continues to make about the war on terrorism. It's important to understand the nature of the enemy that we face. This is a determined and lethal enemy with a clear strategy. The President outlined that strategy in his remarks. He quoted some of the leaders of this radical ideology that they seek to spread. And he laid out very clearly what their strategy is. I think you can go and look at some of the propaganda and comments that terrorists have made, and it clearly shows what their strategy and what their goals and what their beliefs are.

Q: Does he really think they could take over countries like Italy, Spain, Austria, France?

MR. McCLELLAN: This is an enemy that is patient, it is determined, and it is lethal. It is a enemy that is determined to spread a hateful ideology. And what they first want to do is try to establish a safe haven. We took away a safe haven from them when we went into Afghanistan and liberated the people of Afghanistan. They want to establish a country that could be a safe haven from which they could plan and plot their attacks and be able to topple non-radical Muslim governments in the Middle East, and then carry out attacks against the civilized world. That's why the President made the decision after September 11th that we were going to take the fight to the enemy, that the way to defeat this enemy is to take the fight to them and to spread freedom and democracy to defeat their hateful, murderous ideology.

Q: But again, does he really believe that they could take over western countries like Spain and France?

McCLELLAN: That's what their strategy -- go back and look at what the President said in his remarks, because he clearly spelled out what their strategy is. I'm not sure that he characterized it the same way as you just did.

Q: Does he think that's realistic?

MR. McCLELLAN: Look at his remarks. They very much have a strategy --

Q: He warned of a radical Islamic empire stretching from Spain to Indonesia.

MR. McCLELLAN: -- much like the strategy of communism to dominate and intimidate the world.

Q: Scott, what were the three targets of the attacks inside the United States that the President said were thwarted today?

MR. McCLELLAN: He cited a couple of specific examples of what he was talking about in his remarks. In terms of other examples, some of that information is still classified information, and if we can make more information available publicly, we will.

Q: But can you say whether it was infrastructure, or whether it was oil refineries, or what type of target?

MR. McCLELLAN: I just cited two examples of what he's referring to in his remarks that are publicly known, and if there's additional information we'll be glad to get that to you.

Q: Just one last thing on this. He said the United States and its partners on the 10 plots that were thwarted. What were the other countries involved?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, you're asking me to talk about some classified information. Some of this information is publicly known. I cited two examples. I think there's probably some additional information that is already publicly known. We work very closely with partners around the world to dismantle terrorist networks and disrupt plots from happening in the first place. We stay in close contact with governments around the world that are committed to waging and winning this global war on terrorism. And some of that information -- we'll be glad to point out to you some more information that is public.

Q: Scott, more on the speech. First, on that issue, obviously, after the "16 words incident" sometime ago, we are more interested than usual in having -- seeing the footnotes that go with the speech. So just as a matter of maintaining credibility, it would be good if we could get at least outlines of the brief --

MR. McCLELLAN: I just pointed out some that are public, David, as a matter of record.

Q: Of those -- you pointed out two.

MR. McCLELLAN: It's unfortunate that you make such a comparison, so --

Q: Of the two that you pointed out, one was Padilla and the other was the New York bridge. Were you considering those to be two of the three incidents within the U.S. that he was referring to?

MR. McCLELLAN: Those were incidents within the United States.

Q: Okay, so those count as two of the three. So there's only one left that you have not described that he was referring to when he said, "breaking up three incidents in the U.S."

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, that's very good deduction on your part.

Q: Making sure we all understand what it is that we've got. So you've got one incident that you're saying is remaining classified, you cannot describe, within the U.S.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, I didn't say that. I said, those are two examples right off the top of my head of examples that it would be referring to in his remarks.
Now, in terms of the rest of the information, some of that information, for very important reasons, remains classified, because it goes to sources and methods and things of that nature as we continue to wage this war on terrorism. Now, we want to be able to provide you with as much as is available publicly, or that we can make available publicly, and we'll work to do that.

Q: If you could just check later, just to make sure that within the three that he described within the U.S., what you folks had in mind was that two of them were Padilla and the bridge case.

MR. McCLELLAN: I think I just indicated that those were two within the U.S. *

Q: Secondly, in references to Syria and Iran, you have talked before about Syria and expressed a lot of concern about their support. But in the Iranian case, if I understood the administration's position correctly, we had not before heard the President himself describe Iran as an ally of convenience with al Qaeda forces, many of whom are not, obviously, Shiite forces.

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry, Iran has been a long-time state supporter of terrorism.

Q: Right. Ally of convenience would seem to match up with al Qaeda in this case, unless I heard him wrong.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we know that they have a history of supporting terrorism, and I'll go back and look at that specifically if you want additional information.

Q: Scott, the President had mentioned before about fanatics in history -- Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot -- that "consume whole nations in war and genocide before leaving the stage of history. Evil men obsessed with ambition and unburdened conscience, must be taken very seriously. Stop them before their crimes can multiply." Where -- what is the thinking of the administration in terms of Osama bin Laden's capabilities or power to incite or inspire others --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, as he pointed out in the remarks, it is diminished. The terrorists are wounded, but they are still capable of carrying out attacks. And Osama bin Laden is someone that we have on the run. He is someone that we will bring to justice. We have, as the President pointed out in his remarks, dismantled much of his senior leadership. Many of his senior leaders have been brought to justice. There are others that we continue to pursue. And we are making some important progress. But this is going to be a long and difficult struggle, and the President emphasized that in his remarks today.

Q: And in terms of the priorities in the war on terror, the hunt for Osama bin Laden, where does that fall?

MR. McCLELLAN: It's a priority. We continue to pursue him, to bring him to justice for the crimes he has committed against humanity.
Go ahead.

Q: Scott, when you talk about Syria and Iran and that the U.S. is, if anything, toughening our policy towards Iran particularly, what evidence has there been that the toughening of policies to date has had any effect on their alliance of convenience or support of terrorism? And what more should or can be done? It doesn't look like anything is -- it looks as though things are getting worse, now, four years after 9/11.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, that's why the President pointed out in his remarks it's important to hold regimes like this accountable for their behavior and for their actions. And that's --
Q: Who's going to hold them accountable then?

MR. McCLELLAN: -- that's why we work very closely with the international community to address these matters and address these concerns that we have. We have the Europeans working very closely with us to move forward on reaching an agreement with Iran to stop their pursuit of nuclear weapons.
You saw some of the comments made by the President of the regime in -- at the United Nations, and it only increases the concerns of the international community. There is growing concern when it comes to Iran's development of nuclear weapons.

Q: So there's a growing concern, but is there any evidence that that concern has led to any diminishment of their activities that are troubling you more today than they were four years ago?

MR. McCLELLAN: They continue to be a state sponsor of terrorism, they continue to move in the wrong direction. They are out of step with the rest of the Middle East. They need to stop their support of terrorism; they need to change their behavior; they need to give their people greater freedom. Our policy on Iran is very well-known.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:43 AM | Comments (0)

Mr. Bush Uses a Verse From the Qur'an

During an October 6, 2005 address at a National Endowment for Democracy event at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C, President George W. Bush said:

As we do our part to confront radicalism, we know that the most vital work will be done within the Islamic world, itself. And this work has begun. Many Muslim scholars have already publicly condemned terrorism, often citing Chapter 5, Verse 32 of the Koran, which states that killing an innocent human being is like killing all humanity, and saving the life of one person is like saving all of humanity. After the attacks in London on July the 7th, an imam in the United Arab Emirates declared, "Whoever does such a thing is not a Muslim, nor a religious person." The time has come for all responsible Islamic leaders to join in denouncing an ideology that exploits Islam for political ends, and defiles a noble faith.

Mr. Bush, the verse applies to all, including you, who kill or order the killing of the innocent. Our nation and Al-Qaida both have killed the innocent in Iraq.

As for the Imam cited, I wonder if he's one of those the CIA boasts it trained and hired in an attempt to change the face of Islam.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:55 AM | Comments (0)

Mr. Bush's Divine Mission in Iraq

Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Nabil Shaath "quoted George W. Bush as saying God told him to invade Iraq, but said he did not take the U.S. president's comment literally and saw it only as a reflection of his faith and commitment," according to Reuters. Other publications are also running similar reports. Some

"The White House dismissed as "absurd" the remarks attributed to Bush" by Mr. Shaath "in a BBC documentary series recounting a June 2003 meeting he attended along with Mahmoud Abbas, now Palestinian president," Reuters noted.

If Mr. Bush did say what Mr. Shaath claims he said, maybe he does see himself as a "crusader." On September 19, 2001, eight days after Al-Qaida's attack on the United States, he told Americans that "this crusade, this war on terrorism, is going to take awhile."

For more, please see "Palestinian: Bush spoke of Iraq as divine mission."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:24 AM | Comments (0)

October 06, 2005

The Offer Lawrence Franklin Couldn't Refuse

On September 29, 2005, Reuters reported that

The federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, said in a statement that the analyst, Lawrence Franklin, was scheduled to plead guilty to "a charge or charges" on Wednesday but did not have details.

A source familiar with the case said the court's announcement was premature and there was not yet any deal on a guilty plea. The source said negotiations were continuing.Well, now there is a deal. Lawrence Anthony Franklin, age 58, of Kearneysville, West Virginia pleaded guilty October 5, 2005, according to Paul McNulty, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Mr. Franklin admitted that he passed U.S. government secrets to Steven J. Rosen and Keith Weissman, two former employees of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and to "Naor Gilon, a former Israeli political officer with whom he met with at least eight times.According to The Washington Post, Mr.

Gilon "was the political officer at the Israeli Embassy [in Washington] before being recalled last summer.

As might be expected, the fact that Israel is once again implicated in spying on the U.S. produced interesting headlines in the world, Israeli and Jewish press in the U.S. For example, the Debkafile said More Israelis May Fall under Cloud of Franklin Sting Operation

Haaretz's headline said Israel: We Didn't 'Run' U.S. Aide Who Passed Classified Data Arutz Shiva's article on the guilty plea was headlined Foreign Affairs & Defence Committee Chair: Franklin's Admission of Guilt doesn't Impact Israel

The Jerusalem Post told its readers Steinitz: Israel is Not Spying on the US."

Mr. Franklin is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2006. Three months is a long time in the world of espionage. Much can happen between now and then.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:42 AM | Comments (0)

October 05, 2005

Schröder, Merkel to Negotiate October 6 on Chancellor Issue

"Germany's two main parties will meet on Thursday [October 6, 2005] to thrash out who will lead a coalition government to break Germany's political deadlock following inconclusive elections, party sources said," Deutsche Welle reported October 5, 2005

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Deutsche Welle said, "Both rivals for the top job, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder of the Social Democrats and his conservative challenger Angela Merkel, said the final round of exploratory talks on forming a left-right government Wednesday was "positive."

"But they said "personnel issues" must be decided before formal coalition negotiations could begin -- officials from Merkel's Christian Democrats then revealed that the parties would sit down on Thursday to begin talking through the high-stakes issue," Deutsche Welle noted.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:25 PM | Comments (0)

Secretary Rice to Visit Central Asia Next Week

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to visit Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan next week "for discussions on economic development, security matters and democracy building," according to the State Department. Here's more on the proposed visit.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 12:02 AM | Comments (0)

October 04, 2005

Will Turkey Have to Give Up Islam to be Accepted into the EU?

"Turkey must undergo a "major cultural revolution" if it is ever to join the European Union, France's President Jacques Chirac insisted yesterday [October 4, 2005], according to David Rennie of the London Daily Telegraph.

In other words, Turkey should give up Islam and convert to Christianity. I doubt that will happen, at least not in our life town. For more of Mr. Rennie's dispatch, please see "Turks need 'cultural revolution' to join EU."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 11:55 PM | Comments (0)

Taliban Spokesman Latif Hakimi Reportedly Arrested

Dawn, an authoritative Pakistani newspaper reported October 4, 2005 that, "The law-enforcement agencies [in Pakistan] have arrested Latif Hakimi, the chief spokesman of Taliban Movement with five other Taliban suspects from Balochistan."

"Latif Hakimi has been arrested and was under interrogation," Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, the Federal Interior Minister confirmed to media men, on Tuesday [October 4, 2005, according to Dawn. Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 11:54 PM | Comments (0)

Look for Diplomatic Times Posts Tonight

Editor's Note: There will be no Diplomatic Times Review updates until later today or tonight. I have to concentrate on discovery in a major personal injury case I'm working on. See you then.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:48 AM | Comments (0)

Putin Visits London for Economic Summit

Simon Freeman of The Times Online reported October 4, 2005 that, "President [Vladimir] Putin [of Russia] was in London today for an economic summit that threatens to be overshadowed by divisions with the EU over human rights and foreign policy." Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:39 AM | Comments (0)

October 03, 2005

Social Democrats Seem to be Preparing for Life Without Schröder

Der Spiegel's Charles Hawley reported today that, "The final votes have finally been tallied in Germany. But the stalemate between Angela Merkel and Gerhard Schröder continues."

He said "compromises, however, may be just around the corner," and that, "the Social Democratic Party seems to be preparing for life without Schröder." Read more here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 11:24 PM | Comments (0)

Schröder Hints He Could End Quest for a Third Term

"Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said on Monday [October 3, 2005] that he would be prepared to step aside in the interest of forming a stable coalition with the conservatives. But his party said it still wanted a third term for him," Deutsche Welle reported October 3, 2005. Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 11:14 PM | Comments (0)

The Turkish European Republic

"As the clock ran down on the deadline to begin Turkey's membership talks with the European Union, two inescapable questions confronted foreign ministers scrambling for a deal," according to Daniel Dombey of The Financial Times.

Mr. Dombey said, "The doubts will nag at both sides for years to come: does the EU truly want Turkey; and is Turkey convinced that the whole EU negotiation process, with the associated reforms and sacrifices, is worth it?"

Great questions. It's my opinion that the EU does not truly want Turkey. If Turkey had a European character I'd say yes. But I suspect--I have no proof--that many of Europe's elites are wrestling with the question of whether Turkey's huge population will overwhelm Europeans. Especially since Europe's birth rate is reportedly declining. And with Muslims flowing into Europe from former European colonies in Africa, the Indian sub-continent and the Middle East, Europe won't be Europe in about 50 years.

For more of Mr. Dombey's analysis, please see "Doubts nag at both Brussels and Ankara."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 11:08 PM | Comments (0)

Did U.S. Keep Turkey's EU Accession Talks From Breaking Down?

The Independent Online's Peter Popham, writing from Istanbul, said today that, "It was an American intervention that saved Turkey's EU accession talks from breaking down even before they had started."

"As Britain and the others bore down on a recalcitrant Austria," he wrote, "the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Turkey's Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to say that whatever did or did not happen in Luxembourg, Turkey's status within NATO would be unaffected." Here's more of Mr. Popham's analysis.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 10:48 PM | Comments (0)

Turkey Gets to Negotiate With EU Over Admission into Club

Graham Bowley of the International Herald Tribune noted in an October 3, 2005 dispatch from Luxembourg that, Turkey and the European Union on Monday [October 3, 2005] agreed to open membership talks, after a tense diplomatic dance that illustrated all the problems of their partnership."

"After two days of dramatic negotiations, European foreign ministers agreed on terms for talks to start, overcoming Austria's insistence that the EU offer Turkey the possibility of a status less than full membership," Mr. Bowley wrote, adding: "By evening, after hours of discussion with Ankara, Turkey agreed to the framework proffered for what are expected to be tough talks over the next decade."

Meanwhile, New York Times correspondent Craig S. Smith asserted in an October 3, 2005 article that, "Many Europeans oppose Turkey's membership [in the European Union], arguing that while the country has a toehold in Europe, it is not European at its core. They worry that because Turkey would be the largest country in the Union by the time it joined, it would skew the already complex European agenda."

Mr. Smith said, "The last-minute diplomacy kept the Turkish foreign minister, Abdullah Gul, waiting in Ankara and frayed nerves on both sides. "Either it will show political maturity and become a global power or it will end up a Christian club," [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan [the Turkish prime minister] said of the European Union on Sunday," October 1, 2005.

"In fact, it is just that question that is haunting Europe," Mr. Smith added. For more, please see "Identity crisis within the EU." Also see

Posted by Munir Umrani at 10:41 PM | Comments (0)

What Bombshell?

Professor Juan Cole at the influential Informed Comment said in an October 3, 2005 post that, "George Stephanopolous dropped a bombshell on his show on Sunday," October 2, 2005 on ABC News This Week.

What is this bombshell? The answer is here.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:52 AM | Comments (0)

Genscher to Deutsche Welle: "Unification Was the Only Way"

Hans-Dietrich Genscher was Germany's foreign minister at the time of unification between the eastern and western parts of the country. Today, which marks the 15th year of unification, Deutsche Welle published an interview with him. Here it is.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:39 AM | Comments (0)

Does Merkel Now Have an Edge Over Schröder?

"In Dresden, Germany's final district to vote, Angela Merkel's conservatives extended their lead over Gerhard Schröder's Social Democrats, giving her the edge in the power struggle over who should become chancellor," Deutsche Welle reported October 3, 2005.
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The news outlet said, "Results from the poll in the eastern city of Dresden showed that the conservatives will widen their three-seat advantage in parliament over Schröder's SPD by another one seat. Andreas Lammel led with 37 percent, while Marlies Volkmer of the SPD received 32.1 percent."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:33 AM | Comments (0)

Germany's Christian Democrats Gain Another Seat

The EU Observer's Honor Mahoney reported October 3, 2005 that, "Germany's Christian Democrats (CDU) got a boost on Sunday (2 October) after a delayed election in Dresden gave the party an extra seat in parliament." Here's more.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:23 AM | Comments (0)

Turkey Still Begging to Join European Union

After nearly 40-years of begging the European Union for admission into its Christian Club, Turkey is still seeking admittance when it is obvious that some European leaders want nothing to do with the Muslim nation that wants so badly to be other than what it is.

The Independent Online of England reported October 3, 2005 that, "Amid mounting tension, supporters of Turkey's accession argued that a rebuff to Ankara would provoke a crisis in the EU's relations with the Muslim world."

The publication added: "The Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking at a resort outside Ankara, said Europe was at a historic crossroad. "Either it will show political maturity and become a global power, or it will end up a Christian club," he said.

"No EU decision will deviate Turkey from its course" toward further democracy and reforms, Mr Erdogan added. "We will, however, be saddened that a project for the alliance of civilisations will be harmed.

I think most beggars probably feel some shame. However, some Turkish leaders don't seem to have any. For more, please see Stephen Castle's "Last-minute talks on Turkish membership stall."

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:17 AM | Comments (2)

Austria Sticks to its Position, for Now, on Turkey

The EU Observer's Mark Beunderman reported today that, "The opening of historic [European Union] accession talks with Turkey, scheduled for today (3 October) remains uncertain as Austria this morning stuck to its refusal to agree to the negotiating framework."

According to Mr. Beunderman, "UK foreign minister Jack Straw told journalists this morning after bilateral meetings with Austrian foreign minister Ursula Plassnik, as well as with the Greek and Cypriot foreign ministers, that negotiations were "hard and difficult". He added that he "could not be certain" that an agreement could be reached." Read more here.

Editor's Note: This development can change at any moment. However, there will be no Diplomatic Times Review updates until later today or tonight.

Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:02 AM | Comments (0)