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World Media Watch
by Gloria R. Lalumia
BUZZFLASH NOTE: Once again, these are the views and perspectives of the individual papers, not of BuzzFlash or Gloria. They offer BuzzFlash readers a way of reading what other nations are saying about the crisis, whether we like it or not. We repeat: This is not an endorsement of their viewpoints.
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1//The Independent, UK--KURDISH LEADERS ENRAGED BY "UNDEMOCRATIC" AMERICAN PLAN TO OCCUPY IRAQ (The Kurdish leaders are enraged by an American plan to occupy Iraq but largely retain the government in Baghdad. The only changes would be the replacement of President Saddam and his lieutenants with senior US military officers. It undercuts the argument by George Bush and Tony Blair that war is justified by the evil nature of the regime in Baghdad.)
2//The News International, Pakistan--ARABS REJECT US THREATS AGAINST IRAQ (Ahead of an emergency summit on Iraq, Arab nations remained split on how to handle the crisis, with some backing more time for UN weapons inspectors and others holding Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein solely responsible for averting war...The state-run Cairo daily Al-Ahram reported on Sunday that the summit would take place on February 27 in the Egyptian resort of Sharm al-Sheikh. Bahrain's King Hamad, in remarks published on Saturday during the Cairo talks, said he had agreed on Friday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to "call on Arab brethren to frankly explain to Iraq the seriousness of the situation.")
3//Arab News, Saudi Arabia--'FOREIGN POWERS CANNOT MEDDLE IN KINGDOM'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS' (Saudi Arabia will not allow any foreign powers to meddle in its executive or lawmaking authorities, Prince Abdul Rahman, deputy minister of defense and aviation, stated yesterday... "In the future, we will call for a doubling of these forces in a way that would ensure the future of the country and protect its entity and stability from any eventuality," he said.)
4//Ha'aretz, Israel--BACKGROUND/ENTHUSIASTIC IDF AWAITS WAR IN IRAQ (The military and political leadership yearns for war in Iraq, seeing it as an opportunity to win the war of attrition with the Palestinians. According to their approach removing Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat from his position will signify Palestinian surrender. Major General Amos Gilad, Coordinator of Government Activities in the West Bank and Gaza, expressed the army's position Saturday, saying that a U.S.-led attack on Iraq would remove the Iraqi threat, and would be an example for "the removal of other dictators closer to us who use violence and terror.")
5//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong--MILITARY BUILDUP: US, TOKYO IGNORE PUBLIC (While the United States is reportedly planning to beef up its military forces and hardware in East Asia to keep North Korea in check, the public in Japan and South Korea is clearly less than enthusiastic about more US military presence in their countries.)
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1//The
Independent 17 February 2003
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/story.jsp?story=379060
KURDISH LEADERS ENRAGED BY "UNDEMOCRATIC" AMERICAN PLAN TO OCCUPY IRAQ
By Patrick Cockburn in Arbil, northern Iraq
The US is abandoning plans to introduce democracy in Iraq after a war to overthrow Saddam Hussein, according to Kurdish leaders who recently met American officials.
The Kurds say the decision resulted from pressure from US allies in the Middle East who fear a war will lead to radical political change in the region.
The Kurdish leaders are enraged by an American plan to occupy Iraq but largely retain the government in Baghdad. The only changes would be the replacement of President Saddam and his lieutenants with senior US military officers.
It undercuts the argument by George Bush and Tony Blair that war is justified by the evil nature of the regime in Baghdad.
"Conquerors always call themselves liberators," said Sami Abdul-Rahman, deputy prime minister of the Kurdish administration, in a reference to Mr Bush's speech last week in which he said US troops were going to liberate Iraq.
Mr Abdul-Rahman said the US had reneged on earlier promises to promote democratic change in Iraq. "It is very disappointing," he said. "In every Iraqi ministry they are just going to remove one or two officials and replace them with American military officers."
Kurdish officials strongly believe the new US policy is the result of pressure from regional powers, notably Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
(SNIP)
Kurdish leaders are deeply alarmed by US intentions, which only became clear at a meeting in Ankara earlier in the month and from recent public declarations by US officials. Hoshyar Zebari, a veteran Kurdish leader, said: "If the US wants to impose its own government, regardless of the ethnic and religious composition of Iraq, there is going to be a backlash."
Mr Abdul-Rahman accuses the US of planning cosmetic changes in Iraq. "This is to give the government on a platter to the second line of Ba'athists [the ruling party]," he said.
The US appears to be returning to the policy it pursued at the end of the Gulf War in 1991. It did seek to get rid of President Saddambut wanted to avoid a radical change in Iraq. The US did not support the uprisings of Shia Muslims and Kurds because it feared a transformation in Iraqi politics that might have destabilised its allies in the Middle East or benefited Iran.
(MORE)
2//The News International Monday February 17, 2003-- Zil Haj
15 1423 A.H.
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/
ARABS REJECT US THREATS AGAINST IRAQ
CAIRO: Arab foreign ministers meeting here on Sunday adopted a resolution rejecting "any (US) aggression against Iraq" and any threats by Baghdad against Kuwait.
Ahead of an emergency summit on Iraq, Arab nations remained split on how to handle the crisis, with some backing more time for UN weapons inspectors and others holding Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein solely responsible for averting war.
"The miracle must come from within Iraq, either with the departure of the Iraqi regime, or by means of something happening in Iraq," said Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, without elaborating.
Kuwait has sent its state minister for foreign affairs, Sheikh Mohammed Sabah al-Sabah, to join Arab foreign ministers meeting here in preparation for an emergency summit later this month on the crisis in Iraq.
The state-run Cairo daily Al-Ahram reported on Sunday that the summit would take place on February 27 in the Egyptian resort of Sharm al-Sheikh. Bahrain's King Hamad, in remarks published on Saturday during the Cairo talks, said he had agreed on Friday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to "call on Arab brethren to frankly explain to Iraq the seriousness of the situation." Unless the Arabs "now counsel Iraq, sincerely and in unison, not to misread (US intentions), we fear this (a US-led strike) will recur," said Hamad, who in September cautioned that no one could stop an eventual US attack on Iraq.
(SNIP)
On the sidelines of the meeting, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, met Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri. Afterward, Papandreou said he told Sabri war can be avoided if Baghdad quickly and "openly and reliably" answers questions posed by chief UN inspectors.
3//Arab News 17 February 2003 / 16 Dhul Hijjah 1423
http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=22852
'FOREIGN POWERS CANNOT MEDDLE IN KINGDOM'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS'
By P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News Staff
JEDDAH, 17 February 2003 - Saudi Arabia will not allow any foreign powers to meddle in its executive or lawmaking authorities, Prince Abdul Rahman, deputy minister of defense and aviation, stated yesterday.
"It would be totally unacceptable," he said.
He also disclosed plans to further strengthen the Saudi armed forces to defend the country and its vital resources.
(SNIP)
Refuting unspecified allegations of Western dominance in the Kingdom as "baseless falsifications," the prince said that Saudi Arabia has never been subjected to such influences.
"This country, which is ruled by Islam, cannot and will not submit to such influences," he asserted.
The minister blasted "greedy foreign powers" who he claimed were eyeing the Kingdom's natural resources.
"Nobody came to our help when we were poor. How can they now crave for its wealth? The Kingdom's resources are for its citizens, including future generations," he stressed.
Prince Abdul Rahman also called for a strengthening of the armed forces.
"In the future, we will call for a doubling of these forces in a way that would ensure the future of the country and protect its entity and stability from any eventuality," he said.
He highlighted the significant role of the air force in defending the vast country.
(MORE)
4//Ha'aretz Monday, February 17, 2003 Adar1 15, 5763Israel Time:
04:23 (GMT+2)
Article
Link
BACKGROUND/ENTHUSIASTIC IDF AWAITS WAR IN IRAQ
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent
The Prime Minister's Office ascribes little importance to the
diplomatic hurdles America must overcome in the UN Security Council
on the path to a war against Iraq. Israel estimates that the
date of attack depends only on logistical considerations, when
the deployment of U.S. troops is complete, and that the war will
begin at the end of February or the beginning of March. No delays
or any kind of influence are expected from the coalition negotiations.
The military and political leadership yearns for war in Iraq, seeing it as an opportunity to win the war of attrition with the Palestinians. According to their approach removing Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat from his position will signify Palestinian surrender. Major General Amos Gilad, Coordinator of Government Activities in the West Bank and Gaza, expressed the army's position Saturday, saying that a U.S.-led attack on Iraq would remove the Iraqi threat, and would be an example for "the removal of other dictators closer to us who use violence and terror."
Senior IDF officers and those close to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, such as National Security Advisor Ephraim Halevy, paint a rosy picture of the wonderful future Israel can expect after the war. They envision a domino effect, with the fall of Saddam Hussein followed by that of Israel's other enemies: Arafat, Hassan Nasrallah, Bashar Assad, the ayatollah in Iran and maybe even Muhammar Gadaffi. Along with these leaders, will disappear terror and weapons of mass destruction.
There is also excitement in the IDF's planning department over the standoff between the U.S. and its NATO allies. A paper distributed to the army's upper echelons even spoke of an opportunity to remove the pro-Palestinian Europeans from the Middle East. A senior source said Saturday that the U.S. will punish the Europeans for their back-stabbing on the road to Baghdad, and will no longer ask them for input regarding Israeli concessions.
(SNIP)
...Israel's ambassador to the U.S. Danny Ayalon is due to return to Israel for consultation talks, and Sharon is to meet with representatives of the Congress subcommittee on Middle East affairs, scheduled to arrive in Israel Sunday. All the talks this week, and the London summit on PA reform, make up the Israeli-Palestinian part of the preparations for war on Iraq.
Israel expects little from the London talks, since the U.S. promised there would be no progress in the drafting of the road map or in discussions about the aims of reforms within the PA. Within the committee of donors to the PA, the Palestinians will face a hostile front demanding that supervision of the how funds are used be improved. They will also be informed of a reduction in the support they received as compensation for the freezing of tax revenues that Israel collected on their behalf. With the renewal of revenue transfers from the Israeli treasury to the PA, the Palestinians are likely to lose the generous "bridging funds" donated by the EU.
5//Asia Times Online February 15, 2003
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/EB15Dh02.html
MILITARY BUILDUP: US, TOKYO IGNORE PUBLIC
By Axel Berkofsky
While the United States is reportedly planning to beef up its military forces and hardware in East Asia to keep North Korea in check, the public in Japan and South Korea is clearly less than enthusiastic about more US military presence in their countries.
The US, however, determined to "deter North Korean adventurism during a war with Iraq", as the administration of President George W Bush puts it, is apparently unfazed by Japanese and South Korean public opinion. The US Pacific Command is planning to deploy more troops and warplanes in Japan and South Korea in response to US satellite photos allegedly showing that North Korea is about to start reprocessing spent uranium fuel rods into weapons-grade plutonium.
The command urged Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to add eight F-15 fighter-bombers and 2,000 US troops to back up the 37,000 already stationed in the Korean Peninsula, as well as additional reconnaissance aircraft to US bases in Japan and South Korea.
Rumsfeld has indicated that he supports his generals' request, although he has yet to sign the final order for the military buildup in the Far East. In fact, it seems that Washington does not want its friends and foes to get overly alarmed about the demonstration of US military might in East Asia just yet, even if North Korea threatens to run amok from time to time.
(MORE)
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© 2003, Gloria R. Lalumia, insight@zianet.com
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