Liam Fox was under attack last night for damaging Britain's relations with Kabul after he described Afghanistan as a "broken 13th-century country".
What part of that was wrong?
Never mind wrong -- what part of that was not unnecessarily rude? The man is a newbie.
The Defence Secretary's comments, made in an interview with The Times published on Saturday, provoked fury from the Afghan Government and media with officials calling the claims racist.
Truth hurts, doesn't it ...
The remark was not racist, as both Secretary Fox and the Afghans are of the same caucasian racial construct. And anyway, Secretary Fox was judging the country of Afghanistan, not Afghans as a group or as individuals. Perhaps his attitude could be better described as nationalist...
According to senior Afghan officials, Dr Fox's characterisation of the country was raised at a meeting with President Karzai on Saturday. The President expressed his deep displeasure at the remarks, they said.
In his interview Dr Fox said that there must be a distinction between military and humanitarian goals. "We are not in Afghanistan for the sake of the education policy in a broken 13th-century country. We are there so the people of Britain and our global interests are not threatened."
A senior Afghan government source said: "His view appears to be that Afghanistan has not changed since the 13th century and it implies that Afghanistan is a tribal and medieval society.
And the reality is ... ??
"Despite the sacrifices of British soldiers and the massive support of the British Government we do not feel that there is a mutual respect. His remarks show a lack of trust."
The source added: "We see Britain as still a colonial, orientalist and racist country that they should have this view. Dr Fox really believes what he said, and he is not alone. London and Kabul must move on or things will be more difficult."
The issue provoked furious editorials in the Afghan press, with the daily Arman-e Melli publishing a leading article yesterday with the headline: "We don't need Britain in Afghanistan". At a press conference at the British Embassy in Kabul yesterday Dr Fox said: "Of course, what I was pointing out, and I welcome the opportunity to amplify it, is that the primary reason for sending our Armed Forces to Afghanistan was one of national security.
"But clearly if we are to make the long-term gains that will provide the stability to maintain the momentum when our Armed Forces eventually hand over to the forces of the Afghans, we will require a long period of development in concert with the international authorities, the NGOs and our and other countries' aid programmes."
And the Afghans. Don't let's forget that if the Afghans aren't involved, the whole thing will not succeed.
Dr Fox was returning home last night with William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, and Andrew Mitchell, the International Development Secretary, after meeting British Forces in Helmand province. A Ministry of Defence spokesman denied that there had been any confrontation and said that the allegations were "groundless and without truth".
Mr Mitchell said yesterday: "You can't get a cigarette paper between Liam Fox's views and mine on the importance of joining together better and more effectively defence, diplomacy and development."
Dr Fox's office said: "Hamid Karzai has used similar words himself, describing what the Taleban left behind as 13th or 14th-century."
It's different when he says it ...
The visit was intended to display unity within the coalition British Government on what is regarded as the most important foreign policy issue.
The Defence Secretary got off to a controversial start, however, when he told The Times that Britain was not a "global policeman".
He added that he wanted to "reset expectations and timelines", a hint that he wanted to use the trip to accelerate the return of some of the British contingent.
#5
Being in the 13th century probably saved them back in 2001. Who wanted to waste the time and effort to bomb them back into the eleventh or twelfth century?
Although, in hindsight, maybe that wouldn't have been a bad idea.
N'DJAMENA - UN emergency relief coordinator John Holmes travelled Sunday to eastern Chad where thousands of refugees are among those threatened by food shortages facing two million people in the country. Holmes arrived in the capital N'Djamena on Saturday before heading out to the east, where there are around 450,000 refugees from Sudan and displaced Chadians, many of them living in camps.
The aim of the trip is to evaluate the humanitarian situation and call for a better response to the food crisis, the UN said in a statement. Holmes, also the UN's Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, would also travel to the western region of Kanem, another area affected by the food crisis, it said.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in early May that two million people, or 18 percent of the population, face high to very high levels of food insecurity in Chad mainly because of the drought.
UN agencies have also warned that the planned departure of international peacekeepers from Chad could leave a security vacuum in the east, where humanitarian workers face constant attacks by bandits.
N'Djamena and the UN have reached a deal which would see the withdrawal of 1,400 peacekeepers by July 15, with the remaining 1,900 to commence their withdrawal from October 15. The UN Security Council is due to make a decision on the deal next week.
Chadian President Idriss Deby has criticised the UN mission in Chad as a failure', accusing troops of remaining behind the safety of their razorwire fences and not venturing out to help refugees.
So that's where the mighty Uruguayans went!
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Yeah, I suppose Australia is scared to death of the Palestinians. Who knows, maybe they will build a tunnel from Gaza to Canberra and start trouble.
#2
al-Mabhouh entered UAE on a false European passport and was killed while in the process of comitting an international crime. A close associate of al-Mabhouh's said that al-Mabhouh had 14 different false passports which he used depending on which country he was traveling to. I don't hear anybody whineing about that.
#6
If the Australian government is so worried about forged passports, Manboob al-Manboob had 14 of them in his possession. He won't be doing that again, will he?
The Army's top bomb disposal officer has resigned, the MoD has said.
The BBC understands from army sources that Colonel Bob Seddon, of the Royal Logistic Corps, quit over fears bomb disposal training could be compromised.
There has been pressure on the Army to produce more bomb-disposal experts quickly as a result of the threat of roadside bombs in Afghanistan.
An Army spokesman said it "remains committed to the counter improvised explosive device effort".
BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the resignation may have been partly motivated by fears that pressures within the Army to do more to fight the threat from roadside bombs could lead to soldiers being sent to the front line with less training.
Colonel Bob Seddon's resignation may be motivated in part by fears that pressures within the Army to act faster and do more to fight the threat from roadside bombs could lead to soldiers being sent to the front-line to deal with them with less training and poorer equipment.
The dangers faced daily in Afghanistan by bomb disposal specialists are well-known - 11 EOD Regiment lost two of their most experienced men during their last tour of Helmand.
It can take up to eight years to train such experts, and the regiment is currently under-staffed.
There has been pressure on the Army to produce more counter-IED operatives more quickly, thanks to the increasing threat from roadside bombs in Afghanistan.
However, there are worries that could result in less experienced or well-trained soldiers being sent to the front-lines in years to come, which could endanger more lives.
In an interview with the BBC's Panorama, Col Seddon, who held the post of principal ammunition technical officer, said he was concerned about the impact on his team of a shortage of soldiers trained to defuse homemade explosives.
He also said he is also worried about the length of tours and the lack of rest for his elite unit.
#1
"There has been pressure on the Army to produce more bomb-disposal experts quickly as a result of the threat of roadside bombs in Afghanistan."
Not to worry. I understand that they have a comprehensive "on the job training" program all worked out. They used the Post Flight Warhead Repair specialty as a model.
#3
...using prisoners may conflict with the Geneva Conventions. However, there appears to be an excess of Labour appointed bureaucrats that won't be spending time making endless nanny state regulations that are possibly available and whose employment for such work does not conflict with the Conventions.
Obama orders commanders to prepare 'to deter future aggression'
MSNBC - The White House said Monday that President Barack Obama "fully supports" the South Korean president and his response to the torpedo attack by North Korea that sank a South Korean naval ship.
In a statement, the White House said Seoul can continue to count on the full backing of the United States and said U.S. military commanders had been told to work with their South Korean counterparts "to ensure readiness and to deter future aggression."
The United States still has about 28,000 troops in South Korea to provide military support. The two Koreas, still technically at war, have more than 1 million troops near their border.
"U.S. support for South Korea's defense is unequivocal, and the President has directed his military commanders to coordinate closely with their Republic of Korea counterparts to ensure readiness and to deter future aggression," the statement said.
"We will build on an already strong foundation of excellent cooperation between our militaries and explore further enhancements to our joint posture on the Peninsula as part of our ongoing dialogue," it said.
"The U.S. will continue to work with the Republic of Korea and other allies and partners to reduce the threat that North Korea poses to regional stability," the statement added.
President Lee Myung-bak said Monday that South Korea would no longer tolerate the North's "brutality" and said the repressive communist regime would pay for the surprise March 26 torpedo attack. He also vowed to cut off all trade with the North and take Pyongyang to the U.N. Security Council for punishment over the sinking of the warship Cheonan.
#2
I'm hoping that Bambi's order was a formality, and that the US commanders in the Pacific have been getting ready since the day the Cheonan was sunk.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2010 12:43 Comments ||
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#3
I'm hoping that the US commanders in the Pacific have been getting ready since July 27, 1953.
#5
Idk. My hunch is that if any POTUS could ignite a full scale conflict by accident, its Bambi. I mean, the man has zero military experience. Zero. One wonders if he could even hack one day as a private getting ordered around like a dog and take it. I highly doubt his ego could accomodate such insult. And you know how the saying goes...good followers make good leader. Bambi has never been a good follower, yet here he is in charge.
My hopes for regime change in Iran could be diminishing!
Posted by: Paul D ||
05/24/2010 14:47 Comments ||
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#8
GirlThursday- You and I share the same hunch. For all his bowing, prostrating, apologizing, speeching, outreaching, etc., I feel Bambi is more likely than not to bring us closer to catastrophe than few predecessors before him. I've said before that my only hope (a hope which diminishes daily) is that he has decided to walk very, very softly ("I'm so sorry... It's all our fault... Can you ever forgive us?) and carry a really big stick behind his back which he will wield if and when necessary while claiming "I did everything I could" to avoid doing so.
Then again, this is premised on the fact that he would be willing to use the big stick if necessary, which I've since come to doubt. It also is a high risk, high reward strategy that rarely plays out for the better as far as international geopolitics and conflict are concerned. Which only serves to emphasize his total and utter failure to grasp how the real world actually works.
So whatever hope I had, which was really nothing more than trying to give our POTUS the benefit of the doubt, is now just a dream. Such as it should be, I guess, given that is was based on a fantasy from the start.
#9
If it were any other C-in-C I'd laugh at how obvious a diversionary ploy it was. I'm more worried about him screwing this up. Hopefully if anyone has any brains there whatsoever they'll be more inclined to knock some sense into his head if he goes to make another stupid move. Of course, he likes to play his cards pretty close to his vest, so we'll see.
There was a study some years back in which volunteers, all of whom were educated and in government, were given an unfolding national security scenario and asked to respond to it. Based on their responses the scenario would continue to unfold in different ways.
Turns out, by the end of the scenario there was the option to push 'the button', or not.
The self-identified liberals almost always pushed the button well before the self-identified conservatives did.
Wish I had a reference for it; at the time I read it I filed it under 'interesting but not particularly useful to me.'
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2010 17:23 Comments ||
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#11
Because Barry's flaccidity is assumed by all given his track record, our enemies will overreach, giving him the excuse to overreact and distract us from his domestic woes. Like the German General Staff of WWI, having jumped the shark, they will have to hold on for the entire ride, one that will leave all who survive exhausted.
#12
Depending on how bad the current agricultural situation is in NorK, Kimmie might figure he has several hundred surplus mouths to feed. If the population gets uppity, he might decide to keep the focus South.
We could probably defeat them with a bulgogi bomber. We send drones into the enemy rear area that drops steaming hot tasty bulgogi behind the enemy forces and maybe some rice balls, to boot. The enemy turns around and runs in the other direction for the food.
While they are running in the opposite direction, engineers cross the DMZ and erect a huge labyrinth consisting of paths through a maze of Kentucky Fried Chicken joints.
At that point the enemy becomes hopelessly bogged down in coleslaw and forgets what it was they were fighting about.
#14
Why liberate the North? It will only make the Koreans more crazy and the Chinese more paranoid. The only people who would benefit are the North Koreans. They can throw Kimmie off any time they're ready. Until then, we should just keep pointing out the obvious.
#15
CHIN/WMF MIL FORUM BLOGGERS > A number of have opined that although BEIJING likely did NOT approve of the DPRK's action in attacking the CHEONAN, THE PRIORITY OF THE PLA IN ANY INTER-KOREAN MIL CONFLICT IS TO KEEP THE US-ALLIES SOUTH OF THE KOREAN DMZ = CHINA + EAST ASIA, OR IN THE ALTERN TO DESTROY + FORCE A TOTE US MIL WITHDRAWAL FROM THE KOREAN MAINLAND.
Again, DPRK > facing in LT USSR-style SELF-IMPLOSION = NATIONAL, ETHNIC COLLAPSE, ETC. unless something changes soon. The new PRC-DPRK agreement establishing CHIN-SUPPOR/DEV SEZS around the DPRK will likely result in GREATER CHIN ENTRENCHMENT IN NORTH KOREA'S GOVT-SOCIETY, NOT LESS.
Despite any PCorrect rhetoric to the contrary, THE PAN-KOREAN LEFTS, NORTH OR SOUTH, WOULD'VE HAVE UTTERLY FAILED IN THEIR SELF-PROCLAIMED DEFENSE + PROTECTION OF THE INDIGENOUS KOREAN PEOPLES + INTERESTS. The only remnant of the ancient KORYE "THREE KINGDOMS" would be SOUTH KOREA.
2010-2012 > A "GREAT POWERS" MIL CONFRONTATION is in Kimmie's DPRK-specific interests, SOONER THAN LATER, + given the THIRD-PARTY ALTERNATE THREAT FROM NUCEARIZING RADIC ISLAM TO THE WHOLE OF EAST ASIA, NATIONS + TRADITIONS.
And then there's MOUD = ISLAMIST IRAN in the Perdsian Gulf.
#16
"The good part is that the South will do the heavy lifting and I doubt that it will last more than a week."
Well, if it is going to be done, this is about the time of year to do it. But this is also the time of year when North Korea has the most troops available as there is not much going on in the agricultural fields these days.
The North Korean army has no combat experience. Their plans are untried under fire, at least in the last 50-some years.
But while we could probably wipe out anything they have moving on the surface in short order, that whole country is like a prairie dog colony. Digging them out of those mountains would take a very long time.
We could defend South Korea but I am not sure about actually taking North Korea. We could drive them underground and wait them out, I suppose.
#17
I don't think the South really wants to be responsible for the North. S. Korea is a first world country, with a modern industrial plant, well integrated into the world economy. North Korea for the last 50+ years has been starved, mentally and physically abused, and is much closer to a third world country. If South Korea had to rebuild North Korea, it would be like when East and West Germany were reunited, but thousands of times worse. The East Germans may have been poorer than the West Germans, but they had not been starved and brainwashed for 50 years.
That said, if war happens, you do NOT want to be in Seoul when it breaks out. The North does not have to invade to destroy Seoul. It is only about 30 miles from the DMZ.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
05/24/2010 20:36 Comments ||
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#18
Steve- I would love to get my hands on that study. Sounds fascinating.
#19
ION BRINKMANSHIP + "TESTING THE BAMMER", NEWS KERALA > UN CHIEF SUPPORTS TAKING MEASURES AGZ NORTH KOREA, + US URGES CHINA TO PUNISH NK FOR SOUTH KOREAN SHIP SINKING [suppor anti-NK UN Sanctions].
WAFF > OBAMA: PREPARE FOR NORTH KOREA | OBAMA OFFERS SOUTH KOREA FULL US SUPPORT AGZ NORTH.
* SAME WAFF > [Turkey]ANKARA THREATENS REPRISALS IFF ISRAEL HALTS FLOTILLA FOR GAZA [Israeli Naval blockade versus incoming Turkish-led supply-humanitarian convoy].
* CHINESE MIL FORUM > VARIOUS > Did the DPRK or South Korea sink a USN Submarine | MYSTERIOUS USN SPECOPS ACTIVITIES [UDT-Seals], MYSTERY "THIRD BOUY" in and around CHEONAN area may be covert marker for hiding an alleged damaged or sunken US nuke sub [USS COLUMBIA? during US-SK NAVEX].
#20
Question is: What would Obama do if push came to shove. Would he fulfill out obligation and defend our ally? Or would he tie our hands behind our back and blindfold or military.
BEIJING - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Beijing Sunday ahead of talks with Chinese leaders on trade issues and security threats including renewed tensions on the Korean peninsula. Clinton flew into the capital from Shanghai, where she had toured the World Expo site, and attended a state dinner hosted by Dai Bingguo, a member of China's State Council, or cabinet.
Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who arrived earlier Sunday, open two days of talks Monday with Dai and Vice Premier Wang Qishan under the annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue, the highest-level bilateral forum.
Korean tensions have leapt to the top of the agenda after a multinational panel said on Thursday that evidence indicated a North Korean submarine torpedoed the South Korean navy corvette Cheonan in March, killing 46 sailors.
Clinton was expected to seek Beijing's cooperation in backing a response against North Korea, which is heavily dependent on trade and diplomatic support from its neighbour and closest ally, China.
Clinton briefed Dai on the inquiry into the sinking of the warship, a senior US official said Sunday. We've shared with them some specific information' during a dinner ahead of the dialogue, the official said.
Clinton also told Dai the substance of a statement due to be made Monday evening by South Korean leader Lee Myung-Bak, and said Washington would back all measures announced.
The Chinese are still digesting the implications' of the inquiry, said the official, adding that Washington expected Beijing to take some steps in the international arena to underscore the seriousness of the matter.'
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2010 00:00 ||
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#2
It probably wouldn't matter if the South Koreans found a piece of paper signed by Kim Jong Il himself ordering the attack. If the Chinese don't want to hear about it, nothing Hilary says or does will convince them.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
05/24/2010 1:39 Comments ||
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#3
I wonder if Chinese think of it as "The circus is in town."?
#5
Are Clinton and Geithner going to pressure China by threatening to default on treasuries owned by China? Geithner and Hillary seem like the ideal men for this task.
President Lee Myung-bak is to announce South Korea's response on Monday morning to the sinking by North Korea of the Navy corvette Cheonan. Presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said the response will include both independent action and international cooperation, such as asking the UN Security Council to tighten sanctions against the Stalinist country.
I thought the sanctions were already tight ...
The president is expected to ask the North to apologize and warn of a stronger response if Pyongyang should launch further provocations.
Like what ...
A senior presidential official said that could include "punitive military measures."
For the moment Seoul's hands are effectively tied as some 1,000 South Korean staff remain at the joint-Korean Kaesong Industrial Complex in the North.
That would be the first thing I'd fix.
After the president's address, the foreign, unification and defense ministers will hold a press conference at the Central Government Complex, where they are expected to announce specific steps by the government.
The steps may include UNSC sanctions; increased military alert and joint South Korea-U.S. defense preparedness; South Korea-U.S. anti-submarine exercises in the West Sea; a halt to all inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, except for the Kaesong industrial park; and a ban on North Korean ships passing through the Jeju Strait.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2010 00:00 ||
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#2
Prepare another sternly worded letter! That ought to teach them.
Then you have Obama chipping in with his own press release. The NKors must be shaking in their boots.
So what happens if the (I think of them as insane) NKors take this seriously? They are not rational actors.
Rhetoric precipitates war.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike ||
05/24/2010 12:10 Comments ||
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#3
Dang. Mods please delete one.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike ||
05/24/2010 12:10 Comments ||
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#4
NKor doesn't have the money or fuel or food for a war. They have an almost inexhaustible supply of bullshit, but that won't feed your troops or run your heavy artillery.
#9
How can everyone be so damn sure? China lies, so does North Korea.
Good question. That is what people overlook. The Chinese will lie their asses off if they think it will help them get what they want.
Posted by: No I am the other Beldar ||
05/24/2010 16:16 Comments ||
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#10
Are you suggesting that NKorea's army is made up of a good portion of Chinese?
Posted by: Charles ||
05/24/2010 16:27 Comments ||
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#11
Does anyone really know? Establishing what I know (which ain't much):
A) Kim gets regular monetary infusions
B) Kimmies Soldiery eat before civilians
C) They got Da bomb.
JERUSALEM -- President Obama said last year that the United States and Turkey must "work together to overcome the challenges of our time." This month, the allies couldn't have been more out of sync.
Some of us remember that the Turks refused to let the 4ID through on the way to Iraq. Thanks guys.
Turkish mediation of an agreement for Iran to ship abroad part of its stockpile of low-enriched uranium has threatened the Obama administration's efforts to win consensus at the U.N. Security Council on a new package of Iran sanctions and thoroughly irritated U.S. officials.
A rougher patch in relations could be on the horizon if Turkey -- a key Muslim NATO ally crucial to U.S. efforts to stabilize Afghanistan and Iraq -- works to forestall a sanctions vote or votes against sanctions on Iran.
#1
On a related note: CAIR's recommendations to the TN Tea Party convention last Saturday were ignored.
Pamela Geller, 'Atlas Shrugs' blogger, appeared at the Tennessee Tea Party Coalition convention in Gatlinburg on Saturday. U.S. Rep. Steven King, an Iowa Republican, brushed aside calls from Muslin groups that he not address the convention because of Geller's participation. Along with Robert Spencer, also a leader of the Stop Islamization group, she is the author of the forthcoming book "The Post-American Presidency: The Obama Administration's War on America," which goes on sale in late July and is published by Simon & Schuster.
In his largest meeting with Boston-area Muslims, Gov. Deval Patrick agreed yesterday to take aim at ensuring their rights and addressing racial profiling.
The session came little more than a week after two Bay State Muslims were arrested in a raid following an attempted car bombing in Times Square in New York.
More than 1,100 Muslims attended the forum at the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center and Mosque in Roxbury, where Patrick was given one minute to answer "yes" or "no" to seven questions, including whether he would:
Have law enforcement agency heads and others meet with Muslims to discuss the need for cultural awareness training.
Jobs for 'community organizers'!
Designate a liaison to the Muslim community.
More jobs for 'community organizers'!
Urge the public and private sectors to accommodate Muslims' religious obligation to attend Friday afternoon prayers.
I guess it's okay to let church and state mingle, as long as it's the right church ...
The governor answered yes to every question. Patrick said he had already named a liaison. When it came to prayer times, Patrick said he wants to promote overall religious tolerance.
Beginning his comments in Arabic by saying, "Hello, how are you. I speak Arabic a little," the governor said the forum was not his first exposure to Islam, noting that he'd lived in Sudan and Nigeria.
"Yours is a peaceful faith, and I know that. I know you are worried that others know that," he said. The head of one Muslim group said he was interviewed three times in recent years by FBI agents "fishing for something." A mother told of walking with her baby in the months after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and feeling terrified when a cab driver pulled up to them and said, "We should kill you all."
"We are here for power and for recognition," said Bilal Kaleem, president of the Muslim American Society of Boston. "We're against extremism and terror."
How about saying that last sentence more loudly, more often, and in both English and Arabic?
#2
This is a broken record started by the Feds always on the heals of a terrorism event by Muslim. Never heard such obsequiousness after any mafia raids.
#4
The good thing about Deval is that when he panders, which is often, that he usually totally forgets about it by the time he gets in the Caddy. All he cares is that he gets the photo op in.
He probably cost himself more votes because of this then he picked up. And he's gonna need every one he can get.
#5
"We are here for power and for recognition," said Bilal Kaleem, president of the Muslim American Society of Boston. "We're against extremism and terror."
First part is truthful, second is taqqiya. I am going to be generous and assume Deval's highly paid crack (smoking) staff neglected to do due diligence before exposing their boss to a meeting with the bastard son of the organization that spawned most of the islamic terrorism around the world.
To Deval Patrick's staff: Muslim American Society. The first one is free. I expect to get paid the next time I do your job. http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/misc/44.pdf
Posted by: ed ||
05/24/2010 11:13 Comments ||
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#6
"We're against extremism and terror."
but notice that no people or groups are identified as extremists or terrorists
that's because many people in the Islamic Society of Boston (maybe most) don't think Hamas is extreme, don't think Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and maybe even admire the Taliban and Al Q too.
Posted by: lord garth ||
05/24/2010 16:11 Comments ||
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China will discuss boosting up defence cooperation in order to maintain the existing momentum, Daily Times has learnt on Sunday. A 16-member Chinese defence delegation, headed by Chinese State Councillor and Minister for National Defence General Liang Guangile arrived in Pakistan on a two-day visit.
According to a press release, the Chinese defence minister will hold meetings with his Pakistani counterpart Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar and senior local military leadership, which would further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
According to diplomatic officials, the terms on which the Chinese provided weapons and equipment to Pakistan was not aimed at perpetuating Pakistan's dependence on Beijing, but on encouraging self-reliance. This included supply of spare parts, setting up local overhauling facilities, license production and other joint ventures. A Foreign Office official said that Pakistan and China will work closely to address regional security and strategic issues, including intra-regional disputes and posturing of involved states', an apparent reference to a purported report which claimed that India was preparing for a two-front war with both countries.
During talks between a Pakistani team led by Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Tariq Majid and the People's Liberation Army Deputy Chief General Ma Xiaotian, earlier this year, the two sides focused on ways of addressing the tenuous spectre of strategic stability in the region. The last round of the Pakistan-China defence and security talks also decided to address the intra-regional disputes and posturing of involved states.'
These security talks were aimed at sharing perspectives on the fast-evolving regional security situation for developing common insight into emerging scenarios and coordinating common responses'.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Also to begin setting up PRC-PAK SEZS/EEZS between eastern PAK + XINJIANG IN WEST CHINA[Kashi].
NAJAF / Aswat al-Iraq: Sayyid Ali al- Sistani wants to speed up the process of forming the new Iraqi government, Ayad Allawi, head of the Al-Iraqiya Alliance, said on Sunday from Najaf after meeting with the Grand Ayatollah.
Sayyid Sistani stressed Iraq's unity, national unity, and providing services to people,' Allawi said in a press conference attended by Aswat al-Iraq news agency. Allawi noted that he is still ready to meet Nouri al-Maliki, head of the Dawlat al-Qanoon Alliance.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2010 00:00 ||
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BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr has no plans to travel to Egypt and Turkey to discuss the issue of forming the new Iraqi government, Mohammed al-Bahadli, a Sadrist spokesperson, said on Sunday.
"Does Muqtada go to the mountain? I think not. The mountain shall come to Muqtada (PBUH)."
Given the size of His Corpulenceness, moving the mountain might be easier ...
"Any discussions about forming the Iraqi government should be carried out on Iraqi lands," al-Bahadli told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. He noted that news reports in this regard are motivated by sides that support certain media outlets.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
ION YNETNEWS > [Netanyahu]PM: RADICAL ISLAM WID NUKES [+ "no limits on cruelty"]- DANGER TO MANKIND.
ISRAEL + MIDEAST + RUSSIA, WORLD has reached a CROSSROADS.
* SAME ARTIC > Israel ITL Minister Ben-Elliezer > says IRAN is the CENTRAL LINK FOR THE CREATION OF TERROR NETWORKS IN IRAQ, SYRIA, + TURKEY.
Pro-Palestinian activists aboard one of the ships that will head for Gaza's shore as part of the efforts to "break the Israeli blockade," practiced a possible takeover by IDF naval forces at the port in Piraeus, Greece.
Smart, you may yet live ...
"We will not resist the Israeli forces. We'll explain to the soldiers that they are committing an offence," one of the organizers said.
Another organizer, a former Israeli who has been living in Sweden for the past few decades said, "We are preparing for the journey. We've loaded the equipment onto the vessels, which are manned by Greeks and Swedes. They are being briefed on how to conduct themselves should the IDF decide to seize the boat."
Amid reports that the Israeli navy will prevent any attempt to break the blockade, Dror Feiler told Ynet Sunday that the crew will not resist, but rather "try to explain to the soldiers that our intentions are humane and that by boarding the vessel they are violating international law."
Feiler, who served in the Israeli army in the 1970s, said he was aware that the journey will end once the soldiers board the vessel. "I know how this works. I was a soldier for three years and refused to serve in the territories, but I hope the Israeli government will come to its senses and refrain from attacking a convoy of 500 citizens. It won't look good," he said.
Henry Asher, a Jewish-Swedish physician, said the sail to Gaza, which is backed by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, "is important to the residents of the Strip and to the State of Israel. The Jewish state was not established to impose blockades. It is against Jewish tradition," he told Ynet.
"How are Gaza's children at fault for what is happening? This sort of collective punishment is forbidden by law," he added.
On Saturday some 30 Israeli ships set sail "to counter the Turkish flotilla." Posters comparing Erdogan to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were displayed aboard the vessels. Guy Bechor, who organized the Israeli sail, said it was an "appropriate response to a few rickety boats that are being presented as a threat to Israel."
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2010 00:00 ||
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ISRAELI NN > [Chief PA Negotiator][Saeeb] EREKAT:
1967 BORDERS OR WE GO TO THE UN [UNSC], in 2011 to formally demand a forced UN-created Palestinian State in lieu of Israeli-PA negotiations for same.
#2
"try to explain to the soldiers that our intentions are humane and that by boarding the vessel they are violating international law.
I am not a lawyer, but if they enter Israeli waters without permission, they are breaking Israeli law. International law won't help them.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
05/24/2010 1:35 Comments ||
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#3
try to explain to the soldiers that our intentions are humane
Since we're not human in your eyes, why should we respect this?
#4
People have no imagination. For example, what happens if a bunch of those ships lose their propellers in international waters? The closest ships, the other ones in their flotilla, would be required to render aid, which would mean staying with them until a tow vessel arrived.
The Israelis could board several ships, then declare them "plague ships", which would require them to remain at sea, until certified by a national naval medical officer of a country recognized by Israel, to the satisfaction of Israeli Naval authorities. While on board, this in effect makes that nation responsible for that ship, and they could refuse it entry.
The Israelis could easily erect anti-ship nets, fire disabling shots, demand certifications of ships registries, complain to the insurance underwriters of those vessels, use fire hoses, board and disable engines, board and contaminate fuel, jam GPS, etc., etc.
These individuals should never assume they can force Israel into a no-win situation. The Arabs tried wiping them out a few times, and lost. This is a good indicator that the Israelis are a lot smarter than their Arab enemies.
#5
"We'll explain to the soldiers that they are committing an offence" Only a true koolaid drinking liberal could make that statement. Instead of addressing the problem they would rather use children as pawns. BTW the problem is Hamas trying to destroy Israel.
#7
I think something like a marine thermite tape would be splendiforous. Divers just roll out some of that marine "duct tape" along the hull, and it burns a nice, hard to fix gash in the hull. The ship takes on more water than it can pump out, so very slowly starts to sink.
TEHRAN - New U.N. sanctions will hurt ordinary Iranians, opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi said on Sunday, blaming the hardline government for provoking major world powers into action.
In recent days, the issue of sanctions has been raised against our nation. Although we think this situation arose from tactless and adventurous foreign policies, we are against it because it will affect people's lives,' Mousavi said in comments carried on his website Kaleme.
Mousavi, who lost to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in last June's presidential election which the opposition leader says was rigged, said Iran was facing an economic crisis whose full impact has yet to be felt. A 0.5 percentage point fall in GDP growth last year to 1.8 percent according to IMF figures was like undergoing a massive attack by foreign enemies', Mousavi said.
The pressure of this fall is on entrepreneurs and it will be followed by a heavy unemployment and poverty ... turning back towards the people is the only solution and then you will see that again there is a backdrop of hope,' he said.
Some Iran analysts say only major economic hardship could weaken Ahmadinejad's tight grip on power.
Though a Lapua .338 would also work ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2010 00:00 ||
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BEIRUT - French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner called in Damascus and Beirut on Sunday for an easing of tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbours, urging all sides to respect a 2006 ceasefire in Lebanon.
We cannot be resigned to a constant state of tension, even if it is decreasing,' Kouchner told journalists after a meeting in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
He renewed an appeal for all sides to respect UN Security Council Resolution 1701 which ended a devastating month-long war in 2006 between Israel and Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah. The resolution bans the delivery of arms to the Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah.
That's working well, and an appeal from the French will guarantee perfect compliance ...
In Damascus, Kouchner expressed France's concern over Hezbollah's weaponry, to which Assad gave assurances it was not in the interests of Damascus, Tehran or Hezbollah to trigger a new conflict, a French diplomatic source said. The source said that France as a peace broker also wanted to encourage Syria to ease tensions in the region and not to facilitate the delivery of arms to Hezbollah.
In the meeting with Kouchner, Assad accused the West of overlooking Israeli violations in the region. The region has changed and the West's policy in the area is no longer acceptable, keeping silent over Israeli violations is no longer acceptable,' Syria's official news agency SANA quoted Assad as saying.
If the West wants security and stability to be established in the Middle East, they (Western countries) must start to play an effective role to contain Israel and put an end to its extremist policies,' Assad said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2010 00:00 ||
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How much did the pencil-necked dictator offer you, Bernie?
TEHRAN - Iran has delivered to the International Atomic Energy Agency a letter outlining a deal agreed last week with Brazil and Turkey on sending some low-enriched uranium abroad, IRNA newswire reported on Sunday.
Iran's letter on the exchange of nuclear fuel based on the Tehran declaration was delivered by Iran's permanent representative to the IAEA's director general today,' the official news agency said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2010 00:00 ||
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DAMASCUS - Syria defied Western pressure on Sunday over its support for the militant group Hezbollah and said it will not act as a policeman for the Jewish state to prevent weapons from reaching the Lebanese Shi'ite movement.
Did Israel ever stop arming itself, did it stop instigating violence or making military manoeuvres, why are arms forbidden to Arabs and allowed to Israel?' Foreign Minister Walid Moualem said after meeting his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle.
Citing Israeli occupation of Arab land and the technical state of war between Syria and Israel, Moualem said the Damascus government will not be a policeman for Israel'.
Israel is beating the drum of war. In the absence of real peace every thing is possible,' he added.
The row intensified when Israeli President Shimon Peres last month accused Syria, which borders Lebanon, of sending long-range Scud missiles to Hezbollah.
Syria said it only gives Hezbollah political backing and that Israel may be using the accusation as a pretext for a military strike.
A Scud missile is as big as this room. How could it be hidden and smuggled with Israeli planes and satellites all over the region?' Moualem asked, adding that cumbersome Scuds were not suited to Hezbollah's guerrilla tactics.
Let's ask your Russian trainers how it's done ...
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/24/2010 00:00 ||
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They've been moved in in parts and are assembled on site IIRC.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China will discuss boosting up defence cooperation in order to maintain the existing momentum, Daily Times has learnt on Sunday. A 16-member Chinese defence delegation, headed by Chinese State Councillor and Minister for National Defence General Liang Guangile arrived in Pakistan on a two-day visit.
TEHRAN - Iran has delivered to the International Atomic Energy Agency a letter outlining a deal agreed last week with Brazil and Turkey on sending some low-enriched uranium abroad, IRNA newswire reported on Sunday.
