Link to article in German. Google translation here.
Gen Petraeus is visiting Berlin to bid his farewell as NATO military leader in Afghanistan. In Berlin he gave an interview to journalists. I'll summarize the most important points he made:
- He doesn't want to put lipstick on a pig. Nothing is simple in Afghanistan. Nonetheless in a couple of years gradual withdrawal will be possible.
- Journalists ask whether withdrawal by 2014 irrespective of the situation is expedient from a military POV, Petraeus doesn't answer refusing to 'walk into a minefield.'
- The problem is the skill of the Afghan troops. They're capable of 'kill and capture' but they can't hold territory.
A positive development is that the Taliban have become less capable to launch direct attacks.
- Talks with the Taliban are at the 'talks about talks' stage.
- He's not critical of Karzai, likens the disputes re 'civilian' casualties to a marriage quarrel. Petraeus let Karzai know that he (Petraeus) had always seen himself as 'his (Karzai's) General' as well.
(KUNA) -- The U.S. voiced here Wednesday its deep concern over the humanitarian emergency in the Horn of Africa, urging the international community to take additional steps to tackle immediate assistance needs.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ... sometimes described as the Smartest Woman in the World and at other times as Mrs. Bill, never as Another Edmund Randolph ... said in a statement "the United States is deeply concerned by the humanitarian emergency in the Horn of Africa and today's announcement by the United Nations ...aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society... that a famine is underway in parts of Somalia." She indicated that the U.S. "is the largest bilateral donor of emergency assistance to the eastern Horn of Africa," noting "we have already responded with over USD 431 million in food and non-food emergency assistance this year alone." "But it is not enough, the need is only expected to increase and more must be done by the United States and the international community," she stressed.
She announced "that is why today the United States government is providing an additional USD 28 million in aid for people in Somalia and for Somali refugees in Kenya." Clinton stressed that in Somalia, "twenty years without a central government and the relentless terrorism by al-Shabaab ... Harakat ash-Shabaab al-Mujahidin aka the Mujahideen Youth Movement. It was originally the youth movement of the Islamic Courts, now pretty much all of what's left of it. They are aligned with al-Qaeda but operate more like the Afghan or Pakistani Taliban. The organization's current leader is Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee'aad, also known as Ibrahim al-Afghani. Fazul Abdullah Mohammed, a Kenyan al-Qaeda member, is considered the group's military leader... against its own people has turned an already severe situation into a dire one that is only expected to get worse." "Even so, we remain cautiously optimistic that al-Shabaab will permit unimpeded international assistance in famine struck areas," she continued.
According to the U.S. top diplomat, the U.S. "in close coordination with the international community, is working to assist more than 11 million people in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, who are in dire need of assistance." "But the United States cannot solve the crisis in the Horn alone. All donors in the international community must commit to taking additional steps to tackle both immediate assistance needs and strengthen capacity in the region to respond to future crises," Clinton remarked.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/21/2011 00:00 ||
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Aid for what so the terrorists can buy more weapons and the democrappy party tax free corporations can build more wind farms and gold mines, oil fields and gas fields in Africa? They have wind farms but no food or water how does that work? Before we give aid and have it all go to whoever is in charge of the puppet bad guy side perhaps some carpet bombing the old fashioned way might help. Wake Up America our countries kindness has been exploited not only by our enemy but also our allies and our country is being bled to DEATH!
#2
Twenty-eight million is a small enough amount that the State Department can get it by shifting around priorities. More than that they'd have to go to Congress for, which won't get them very far in the current climate.
This is about backing Secretary General Ban's play.
#5
How about some accountability??? The plea for more when we are in a debt crisis should fall on deaf (gov't) ears--no more taxation without taxpayer's representation; see more lunacy:
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/07/20/report-un-aid-agencies-stockpile-huge-amounts-cash/?test=latestnews
[Emirates 24/7] La Belle France accepts Moamer Qadaffy ...Custodian of Wheelus AFB for 42 long years... could stay in Libya if he quits politics, under a ceasefire deal to end a conflict with rebels backed by Gay Paree, the French foreign minister said on Wednesday.
"One of the possibilities being considered is that he stay in Libya but on the clear condition that he steps aside from Libyan political life," the minister, Alain Juppe, told LCI television.
"That is what we are waiting for before we start the political process for a ceasefire."
Posted by: Fred ||
07/21/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
The French are proposing that Kadaffy just move to some quiet part of town ( with a pleasant view of the sea perhaps) and take up gardening ? yeah? And all of his neighbors will be "old friends" , as it were. They will meet in the community Rec room from time to time to reminisce and sing nostalgic songs.
And what about the body guards, where will they be staying and how WILL they be paid? Because ( just a clue) UNLESS you pay some people with guns I dont give you much hope that Kadffy's mailbox is going to last the night.
I am sure he isnt stupid enough to think he, himself, will last till ( say ) Wednesday if he gives up power and "retires" to raise Tomatoes and zinnias ANYWHERE is Libya. We are talking Moslem values here , remember?.... and forgiveness doesnt get big billing among Moslems ( or am I wrong )?
And If Kadaffy is living quietly ( minding his own business and completely innocent of any ill feeling or nagging memories) how many people in Libya will forgive and forget and wish him well?
And the French will foot the bill for the PERMANENT bodyguards..... all the way out to maximum mortar range?
Tell me about it ( and speak French ). Or the French are joking and they know this diplomatic ha ha simply distracts us all from the size of their rather large Gallic noses.
Posted by: de Medici ||
07/21/2011 7:20 Comments ||
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Yes, this is a possibility. " If Kadaffy is living quietly ( minding his own business and completely innocent of any ill feeling or nagging memories)". Yes he can do that.
In his mind he is Libya. The tribes will establish order. Without the established order which is Kadafi, chaos will be never ending. This stinks but the west must show that they are not just after their own interests in the Arab mind.
The so called freedom fighting rebels will be the problem. They have already been counting the booty they hope to acquire. Once stable they just import labor to do the jobs as before. Everything back in order faster than any other process of power transfer. A monarchy as in Morocco. In this part of the world I think Kadafi would find that acceptable. The godfather with his sons in line of succession.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/21/2011 7:58 Comments ||
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Hello Steve!. That is a good example. Since 1991 they have had a civil war. Clans having their turf wars. Blood loss requires blood loss. A Clan losses land to a stronger clan so moves into another area causing conflict with another clan. Political leaders alone will not work. A person like a figurehead they trust who supports the clan history. Again like a Monarchy or tribal king. Like a godfather of a Monarchy with all the trappings. Now the industry of war brings in the revenue. An endless cycle. The Monarch will be the arbiter and the politicians make it so. Something must unify the people. They must have a common cause and uniqueness as a whole looking towards the future.
Gaddafi does not fit. He is an outsider. His bones are in Libya. He is going nowhere alive.
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Wednesday agreed that talks should be held to resolve all regional issues to maintain peace, stability and security in the region.
And if there's anything Saudi Arabia and Pakistan know anything about it's peace and stability...
In wide-ranging talks with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari discussed matters of mutual national interest, including security in the region and the pivotal role of Pakistan in the war against terrorism.
Like, for example, how Pakistain is undermining said war...
King Abdullah lauded Pakistan's sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and said the Kingdom is a steadfast friend of Pakistan.
During the meeting, Zardari said the two countries continue to enjoy excellent relations as they are based on solid foundations of Islamic identity, common historical experiences and commonality of perceptions on all national and international issues. These linkages since the birth of Pakistan have now matured into unbreakable bonds of fraternity and brotherhood.
With the Arabs as the older brother, of course...
Both leaders reiterated their resolve to further strengthen bilateral relations and place greater emphasis on cooperation in the economic and commercial fields for mutual growth and development.
Since both are such economic powerhouses...
"Pakistan favors political stability in the Middle East and is against the use of force in the region," said Zardari.
"Zardari's visit aims at strengthening bilateral ties and to take forward the consultative process on issues of peace, security and political stability in countries of the region that have recently been witnessing violence and turmoil," said a press statement from the Pakistani Consulate.
Pakistan and the Kingdom enjoy deep-rooted brotherly ties. Pakistan has offered hundreds of thousands of acres of agricultural land that could be cultivated for export of food grain to the Kingdom. Saudis would be permitted to set up fertilizer plants in Pakistan to boost food production.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/21/2011 00:00 ||
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The king consults with the representative of his real army, who is overawed by his condescension.
[Bangla Daily Star] A court yesterday framed charges against 430 of 850 accused in a carnage case filed in connection with the 2009 Pilkhana mutiny.
Arson, lootings, dumping bodies, burying people in mass graves and theft are the other charges brought against the accused.
Of the 430, 409 are members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) while the rest include former BNP politician Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu, Awami League leader Torab Ali and 17 civilians.
The court will frame charges against the remaining 420 people on July 27.
A total of 74 people including 57 army officers were killed at Pilkhana, the headquarters of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), now renamed BGB, in the mutiny on February 25-26, 2009.
Yesterday, the trial began at 9:50am.
Judge Mohammad Zohurul Hoque of Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court began framing charges after rejecting discharge pleas of the accused.
The court, set up at Bakshi Bazar in the city, read out specific charges against the 430 and wanted to know from each of them how they would plea. All the accused pleaded not guilty "Wudn't me."
The court started charge framing with the prime accused Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) Towhid who was leading a group of BDR jawans in a negotiation meeting at the prime minister's residence on February 25, 2009, night but he "concealed information about the murder of army officers".
Subedar Maj Gofran Mallik and Sepoy Selim Reza, who were among those to play major role in the carnage, were also indicted.
A brief deadlock developed as defence lawyers said the indictment is illegal since the accused were not earlier informed in writing about the charges brought against them.
Many accused alleged they had made confessional statements in the face of severe torture and not before any magistrate.
A total of 543 accused in this case made confessional statements.
"You shot and killed Col Mujibul Haque, Col Enayet and Maj Mokbul and you have already confessed that," the court told Havilder Yusuf Ali and asked whether he would admit it now.
As the court insisted that records show he made confessional statement, Yusuf just denied it.
As he tried to explain, the court said, "You take that much opportunity the court allows at this stage." As he continues, the court asked guards to take away the microphone from him.
The court said the accused, who have no defence counsel, would be provided with state defence to move for them.
Of the 850, 20 are still absconding while three are dead. Twenty three of the accused are civilians.
About the absconding accused, one of the special public prosecutors of the case, Sheikh Baharul Islam, said charges will be framed against those on the run in their absence.
Criminal Investigation Department submitted charge sheet against 824 people. Later, 26 other BGB jawans were made accused in a supplementary charge sheet.
Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu and Torab Ali were indicted for instigating and planning the killing. The other nineteen were charged with theft.
Pintu was also charged with abetting mutineers to flee Pilkhana, attending a meeting at the residence of an accused on February 24, 2009 and criminal masterminding the massacre and organising procession in support of mutineers.
As the court asked Pintu how he would plea, he said many accused placed confessional statements against many ministers and politicians. "There is nothing against me, but I have been made an accused."
Posted by: Fred ||
07/21/2011 00:00 ||
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[Bangla Daily Star] Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said those who can say they would throw away the national constitution and throw it to dustbin should go to Pakistain.
"The opposition leader [Khaleda Zia] Three-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ... has said that she would throw away the constitution and some of her associates have wanted to throw it to dustbins. How audacious they are! They do not believe in the country's independence and sovereignty. They should go to Pakistain," she said.
Hasina made the remarks at the Awami League (AL) working committee meeting held at her Gano Bhaban residence in the afternoon.
If she [opposition leader] would have respect toward the constitution, she could not make such remarks, the premier said.
"She has forgotten that 30 lakh people sacrificed their lives and two lakh mothers and sisters sacrificed their honour to attain the constitution of independent Bangladesh," Hasina said.
The premier alleged that the opposition leader and Jamaat are trying to save the war criminals and the killers of others who bit the dust in the August 21 grenade attack.
On strengthening the Election Commission (EC), she said "The commission is independent now. It will be further strengthened to arrange elections in free and fair manner."
The AL government never tries to influence the EC, Hasina said.
The premier said that with the 15th amendment to the constitution, avenues of grabbing the state power unconstitutionally have been stopped forever.
"People have got their power back through this amendment," she said.
"If she [Khaleda Zia] demands the caretaker system of government, she has to admit that the last caretaker government had done the right thing by filing corruption cases against her and her sons," the premier said adding that it was the last caretaker government which found out that Khaleda Zia had "plundered the money of orphans under the Zia Orphanage."
Listing various development works done by the preset government, she said that on Tuesday total electricity generation was 4,993 megawatt which was the highest after the government assumed power.
Hasina said the government is making all out efforts so that people do not suffer during the ensuing holy month of Ramadan.
"We are keeping close watch so that none can hoard food to make extra profit at the cost of public suffering," she said.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/21/2011 00:00 ||
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That is punishment being sent to Pakistan, like being sent to the gulags in Siberia.
Posted by: Paul ||
07/21/2011 5:43 Comments ||
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Apparently, "go to Pakistan" is the new "send him to Detroit".
[Al Jazeera] It has been five months since North Korea declared it needed international assistance to feed its population, but the US has yet to decide whether to provide aid to the nation of 25 million people.
The government of Kim Jong Il limits access to outsiders -- so the international community took notice when in February, the nation put out a plea for food aid because of a harsh winter and severe flooding.
The US stopped food aid to North Korea in 2008 after it could not reach a deal with Pyongyang on a monitoring programme -- to ensure the food went to the needy.
The challenge for the B.O. regime is trying to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe at a moment when it is not clear just how bad things really are for the North Korean people.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/21/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
the Barack Obama regime is "challenged" by the starvation in North Korea?
Why? How many North Koreans are IN the Barack Obama "regime"? yeah?
What does North Korea produce that we NEED in the United States? There must be SOMETHING they offer the United States other than their pretty faces, after all. Precisely WHAT is it that North Korea has to tug on our heart strings?
And tell me, ( be honest ) do you really care for all your friends in North Korea one way or another? If they cant raise enough Kimchee to feed themselves ( people DO need to focus on feeding themSELVES ) or they just slide out of the gene pool, you know. WHY dont they produce enough to feed themselves?
Does it have anything to do with the fact that the United States didnt give them dinner? WHY is that?
What do we OWE North Korea ? And what difference is it to the United States if a Communist basket case is starving to death ?
HELLO!
There is a REASON North Korea is a starving Basket Case. There IS a reason why they cant feed themselves. It has NOTHING to do with the United States. It has everything to do with their own Kimchee smelling Communist Values. You ever sniffed a bucket of Kimchee? It smells like Communist Paradise.
Screw 'em.
Posted by: de Medici ||
07/21/2011 6:56 Comments ||
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Secomd the Motion, screw them. We have troubles of our own.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
07/21/2011 7:09 Comments ||
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Not our problem. At the most I would air drop weapons to NK. NOT FOOD. Have a nice revolution!
#7
This is why China will never be the superpower they wish to be. They take and purchase what they want. Their own people want a piece of the pie now. They will let North Korea rot. Total indifference towards the rest of the world. The military has a few important people who see this error. Nobody is listening. They build, print money, and now want space as their domain. They are spending like on a mad spree. A huge bubble is building. Their ego will not see the caution lights blinking. The corruption will push for more spending so this will continue till they hit the wall. Russia is in far better shape. They will profit from this blunder of ego and greed. Like the cheshire cat they watch with that grin of satisfaction looking for the right time to pounce.
I watched the first hearing, and it was not boring! Agents from across the border will be testifying.
On Tuesday, July 26th, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will convene a hearing as part of the ongoing investigation into the Department of Justice's Operation Fast and Furious, a tragically flawed effort that is connected to deaths on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border.
The Committee's previous hearing, Operation Fast and Furious: Reckless Decisions, Tragic Outcomes, featured ATF agents who testified they were ordered to let guns destined for Mexican drug cartels walk and heartbreaking testimony from the family of a U.S. Border Patrol agent whose murder is linked to guns that law enforcement chose not to interdict.
This Tuesday's hearing, Operation Fast and Furious: The Other Side of the Border, will feature the testimony of U.S. law enforcement officials who witnessed a different side of the controversial operation. These officials saw the steady stream of Operation Fast and Furious guns recovered at crime scenes in Mexico and were given orders from superiors not to alert Mexican authorities. Members of the Committee will also have their first opportunity to question ATF supervisors who have defended Operation Fast and Furious and the Justice Department's decisions to committee investigators.
"The Acting Director of the ATF has told congressional investigators that the Justice Department is attempting to shift blame in Operation Fast and Furious away from its political appointees," said Chairman Darrell Issa. "Examining the accounts of witnesses who did not participate in Operation Fast and Furious, but were nonetheless disturbed as they watched it unfold is critical to understanding the scope of this flawed program. This testimony is especially important in light of the Justice Department's willful efforts to withhold key evidence from investigators about what occurred, who knew and who authorized this reckless operation."
Witnesses
Mr. Carlos Canino -- ATF Acting Attaché to Mexico
Mr. Darren Gil -- Former ATF Attaché to Mexico
He got pulled because he wanted to tell Mexico about what was going on.
Mr. Jose Wall -- ATF Senior Special Agent, Tijuana, Mexico
Mr. Lorren Leadmon -- ATF Intelligence Operations Specialist
Mr. William Newell -- Former ATF Special Agent in Charge, Phoenix Field Division
Mr. William McMahon -- ATF Deputy Assistant Director for Field Operations (West, including Phoenix and Mexico)
#1
Where were the brains of Obama who signed for the funding of this fiasco, of Holder who bragged in 2009 he was the one who implimented the plan and the BATFE who's purpose is to see that things like this don't happen. I think we should go back to the beginning to whoever wrote the "Gunrunner" plan and calculated the 40 million dollars for its implimentation back in 2006. Obviously this plan was in the works for a very long time and a key part of the Democrats program to change America from the land of the free.
I hope Darrell Issa is successful in bringing all those involved to justice. Too many people south of the border have been murdered by this ploy to create a crisis for futher gun control legislation and too many people north of the border finally realize depth of illegality the Democrats are will to go to circumvent and destroy the Constitution of the United States. Mass murder has been committed to further their ideology. This is almost as heinous as the Democrats withholding and falsifying documents to put a foreigner in the White House.
#3
This something related to trafficking and cartels;
"Coyote sells nine Salvadorian women for prostitution to Los Zetas
Posted on July 20, 2011 Filed under: El Salvador, Human Smuggling, Latin America Womens Issues, Mexico, Organized Crime, Police/Military Activity, Zetas
Los Zetas, a Mexican criminal group, allied with the Salvadorian coyote Jesus Ovidio Guardado to recruit women for prostitution informed El Mundo.com.sv. The coyote tricked the victims by promising safe passage to the United States when the actual plan was to sell the women to Enrique Jaramillo Aguilar, leader of one of the Zeta cells in Reynosa. The victims testified that Aguilar forced them to prostitute themselves by drugging them and branding them with tattoos until they were able to escape".
[Dawn] A separatist leader in Indian-controlled Kashmire said Wednesday the Kashmiri-born man jugged in the US on suspicion of being a Pak agent is a victim of a diplomatic conspiracy.
The charge against Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai of the Kashmiri American Council alleges he is an unregistered agent of a foreign government.
The US Justice Department says he donated millions to a Washington nonprofit in a secret lobbying effort led by Pak intelligence to influence US policy on disputed Kashmire.
Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Wednesday insisted Fai was innocent and called the allegation the "result of India's diplomatic efforts and conspiratorial plans."
Both Fai and Geelani have openly opposed India's heavy-handed rule and argued that Kashmiris should vote themselves to decide the territory's final status.
"Mr. Fai has been active for last 32 years highlighting the plight of his people," Geelani said.
"Because of his unflinching advocacy of the Kashmire cause at the international level, he had become an eyesore for India."
Another separatist group, the pro-independence Jammu-Kashmire Liberation Front, also condemned the US charge as going against the democratic path of nonviolence Fai advocated.
"His arrest is against ideals of democracy and peaceful reconciliation. This is also against the US government's approach and thinking."
India's police chief in Kashmire said Fai's arrest followed years of suspicions.
"He has been figuring in lots of things in the past, like ... the diversion of ISI funds for anti-national activities in India and particularly in Jammu and Kashmire," Kuldeep Khoda said.
The US Justice Department says in court documents that Fai --directed by a top member of Pakistain's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI --donated millions of dollars to US political campaigns, wrote newspaper op-eds, organised congressional trips and met with White House and State Department officials.
Geelani urged Kashmiris to protest Friday and "foil the Indian designs to weaken the Kashmiri struggle."
He said that, unless Fai was freed, Kashmiris "will lose their faith in the international community."
Posted by: Fred ||
07/21/2011 00:00 ||
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[Dawn] US General David Petraeus admitted Wednesday there was no option but to work on troubled relations with Pakistain, days after standing down from his job at the helm of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
Speaking in Gay Paree on his way to his new job as CIA chief, the most celebrated military leader of his generation said Afghanistan's neighbour wanted to eliminate Al-Qaeda and Talibs but was struggling.
"They'll be the first to say that there are limits to how much they can do," said the man who headed the United States' longest-running war for the last year, with less territory controlled by Islamic fascistitoday but civilian deaths up.
"They have a lot of short sticks in hornets nests right now and they have to consolidate some of those gains."
Petraeus said Pak anti-militant operations have been impressive but they "clearly need further effort to deal with some of the other elements, like the Qaeda network in North Wazoo and the Taliban in Balochistan". ...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
"This relationship is in a difficult stage," Petraeus said, blaming WikiLeaks revelations, the arrest of CIA agent Raymond Davis as well as the killing by US forces of Al-Qaeda kingpin the late Osama bin Laden ... who no longer has to waste time and energy breathing... in Pakistain in May.
He said it was believable that Pak intelligence did not know that Bin Laden was hiding out in Abbottobad, home to much of the Pak military establishment, when he was killed there.
"It is credible to me that they did not know. We received no intelligence whatsoever to indicate that there was any awareness that he was there." But while "we see the Bin Laden raid as an extraordinary success, intelligence together with military forces, Pakistain sees it as an affront to their national illusory sovereignty, we've got to work our way through this".
"We know what happens when we walk away from Pakistain and Afghanistan, we've literally seen the movie before, it's called 'Charlie Wilson's War' (about covert US support for anti-Soviet Afghan fighters) and indeed that is not in my view a good option.
"However difficult the relationship may be it's one we need to continue to work, it's one where we need to recognise what our Pak partners have done, they've sacrificed several thousand soldiers and police and their civilians have suffered substantial levels of violence."
Posted by: Fred ||
07/21/2011 00:00 ||
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(KUNA) -- The US is watching India's growth with much admiration and is betting on its future; it also has a pivotal role to play in South and Central Asia in the 21st century, said the visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ... sometimes described as the Smartest Woman in the World and at other times as Mrs. Bill, never as Another Condoleezza Rice ... in India's southern city of Chennai on Wednesday.
She was addressing students and a select group of opinion-makers at the Anna Centenary Library. Clinton's address was televised live by TV channels. Chennai is the capital city of India's southern state of Tamil Nadu.
Hillary is in India on a two-day official visit to attend the second round of the Indo-US Strategic Dialogue. Today was the final day of her visit, the second in past two years.
Making heaps of praises on India, she said: "We understand that much of the history of 21st century will be written in Asia, and that much of the future of Asia will be shaped by decisions not just by the Indian government but by state governments across India and by its 1.3 billion people who live in this country".
She added that the US vouched by India's growth potential. "We are betting on India's future. That opening of India's markets to world will produce a more prosperous India, and South Asia too. We are betting that India's vibrant pluralistic society will inspire others to follow a similar path of tolerance. We are making this bet not out of blind faith but because we have watched your progress with great admiration".
Hillary further stated that because of its tremendous growth, India has rightfully attained a place of prominence at the international fora. "India is taking its rightful place in the conference rooms of the world where the most consequential questions are debated and decided. President B.O. has backed India's bid for permanent membership of UN Security Council".
Hailing India's democratic structure, the US Secretary also stated that India's Election Commission had set up a global standard for running free and fair elections.
On Indo-US relations, she said that the bilateral ties would be "one of the defining relationships of the 21st century".
Acknowledging differences between the two sides on a few issues, Hillary said that the bonds between the two sides were so strong that they outweighed the differences. "We will have differences from time to time as friends sometimes do, but our bonds far outweigh our differences. We are both committed to fighting terror".
She also advocated for a closer people-to-people relations between the two nations.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/21/2011 00:00 ||
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(KUNA) -- Marwan al-Barghouthi, a member of the Central Committee of the Fatah Movement, has called for a peaceful march inside and outside the Paleostinian territories during the week to vote on the membership of Paleostine at the United Nations ...where theory meets practice and practice loses... in September.
Al-Barghouti said in a letter from his (Hadarim) prison that winning the battle of next September as an important milestone in the march of the struggle of the Paleostinian people requires launching the largest popular peace marches inside and outside the country and in the Arab countries as well as Islamic and international capitals.
He added that such matter requires the mobilization of all energies of the Paleostinian people and the involvement of everyone in this battle because it is not a battle of President the ineffectual Mahmoud Abbas ... a graduate of the prestigious unaccredited Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow with a doctorate in Holocaust Denial... and the PLO or ambassadors, but is a battle of all Paleostinians, Arabs and the free people in the world.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/21/2011 00:00 ||
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TEHRAN (AFP) -- The Iranian navy plans on deploying warships to the Atlantic Ocean as part of a programme to ply international waters, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayari said in statements published Tuesday.
But the commander of the navy, quoted by Kayhan newspaper, said he was waiting for "final approval" before launching the operation.
[An Nahar] Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem warned the French and U.S. ambassadors on Wednesday not to travel outside Damascus ...The City of Jasmin is the oldest continuously-inhabited city in the world. It has not always been inhabited by the same set of fascisti... without permission from the authorities, after they both visited the flashpoint central city of Hama earlier this month.
"We will impose a ban on any (diplomatic) travel more than 25 kilometers outside Damascus, if the ambassadors continue to ignore (our) guidance," Muallem told the envoys at a meeting broadcast by state television. ... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
"I hope that we will not be forced to impose the ban," he added.
"We did not expel the two ambassadors because we had hoped to maintain better relations in future."
Both U.S. envoy Robert Ford and French ambassador Eric Chevallier visited Hama on July 7 amid repeated large demonstrations in the city against the rule of President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneck al-Assad. One of the last of the old-fashioned hereditary iron-fisted fascist dictators. Before going into the family business Pencilneck was an eye doctor...
Damascus reacted furiously to the visit, accusing the U.S. ambassador of seeking to undermine the stability of Syria and calling in both envoys for consultations on July 10.
The Syrian authorities accused the pair of traveling to Hama without authorization but Washington insisted Damascus had been notified in advance.
"The U.S. ambassador met with saboteurs in Hama ... who erected checkpoints, cut traffic and prevented citizens from going to work," an interior ministry statement said at the time.
The foreign ministry called Ford's presence in Hama "obvious proof of the implication of the United States in the ongoing events, and of their attempts to increase (tensions), which damage Syria's security and stability."
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said she was "dismayed" by such criticism and stressed that Syrian authorities knew of the visit in advance.
Embassy press attache JJ Harder insisted Ford "certainly did not incite anyone to anything".
"He met with average Syrian citizens and received a warm welcome," Harder said.
Ford "wanted to see with his own eyes what was happening on the ground," as "the lack of uninhibited access for international media makes this even more important."
Posted by: Fred ||
07/21/2011 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Govt of Syria
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.
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President-for-Life Bashir 
