|
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.
* * *
1//The Independent, UK--US GENERAL WITH IRAQ ROLE LINKED TO HARDLINE ISRAELIS (Lieutenant-General Jay Garner, the co-ordinator for civilian administration in Iraq, put his name in October 2000 to a statement blaming Palestinians for the outbreak of Israeli-Palestinian violence and saying that a strong Israel was an important security asset to the United States.
2//TurkishPress.com, USA--GUL: U.S. LOANS ARE NOT RELATED WITH OPENING OF NORTHERN FRONT; USD 8.5 BILLION IN LOANS FROM UNITED STATES TO TURKEY (Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that the 1 billion U.S. dollars in economic grants that the U.S. administration allocated from war budget or 8.5 billion U.S. dollars in direct loans to Turkey were not related with opening of ''northern front''.)
3//The Daily Star, Lebanon--BUSINESS: THE WAR ON IRAQ SPARKS NEW UNCERTAINTIES (Oil prices closed the week at $25.5 a barrel for Brent crude and the expectation is that prices will trend toward the $20 level. Lower oil prices mean depressed oil revenues and rising internal and external imbalances for the Gulf states. The oil-producing countries of the region could then assume a lower growth path than what is anticipated. Saudi Arabia is likely to be affected most, given its contractionary fiscal policy and its large internal debt burden, estimated at around $168 billion at the end of 2002.)
4//The Moscow Times, Russia--CHECHENS GIVE A BIG 'YES' FOR STABILITY ("I'm not asking myself whether the results of the referendum are correct," said Magomed Viskhadzhiyev, a student at Grozny University. "Those of us here think only about one thing: We need law and order. We cast ballots for a constitution that symbolizes order."… Nikolai Petrov, a political analyst with the Moscow Carnegie Center, said the future of Chechnya rests on the economic deals Grozny cuts with Moscow, not the constitution. "The constitution is an abstract plan to organize state structures in Chechnya," he said. "In fact, under its new status, Chechnya has material needs that only can be provided for in economic agreements with Moscow.")
5//The Japan Times, Japan--JAPAN SHOULD LOOK TO REARM, ISHIHARA SAYS (Japan should bolster its military amid the growing tension over North Korea's nuclear weapons program, Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara said in an interview published Monday. "Japan should protect its own airspace and sea," Ishihara told the Washington Post in Tokyo. "To do that, Japan should rearm."… Ishihara, who has announced that he will seek re-election in next month's gubernatorial election, left open the possibility of seeking a seat in the Diet or forming a party that might propel him into the prime minister's office.)
* * *
1//The
Independent 26 March 2003
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=390842
US GENERAL WITH IRAQ ROLE LINKED TO HARDLINE ISRAELIS
The retired general named as civilian governor of occupied Iraq has visited Israel on a trip paid for by a right-wing group that strongly backs an American military presence in the Middle East.
Lieutenant-General Jay Garner, the co-ordinator for civilian administration in Iraq, put his name in October 2000 to a statement blaming Palestinians for the outbreak of Israeli-Palestinian violence and saying that a strong Israel was an important security asset to the United States.
The statement was sponsored by the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (Jinsa), which pays for retired US military officers to visit Israel for security briefings by Israeli officials and politicians. Richard Perle, one of the architects of the US invasion of Iraq, is a member of the institute's board of advisers, as was Vice-President Dick Cheney before he took office in 2001.
(MORE)
2//TurkishPress.com 3/25/2003
http://www.turkishpress.com/turkishpress/news.asp?ID=9681
GUL: U.S. LOANS ARE NOT RELATED WITH OPENING OF NORTHERN FRONT
ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that the 1 billion U.S. dollars in economic grants that the U.S. administration allocated from war budget or 8.5 billion U.S. dollars in direct loans to Turkey were not related with opening of ''northern front''.
(SNIP)
Noting that it was not a new economic aid, and they had known about it, Gul said that the aid in question was not relation with opening of ''northern front'' but it aimed to compensate Turkey's economic losses.
USD 8.5 BILLION IN LOANS FROM UNITED STATES TO TURKEY
WASHINGTON - U.S. President George W. Bush's war budget includes 8.5 billion U.S. dollars in direct loans or loan guarantees to Turkey, White House documents showed.
(SNIP)
The United States was earlier planning to provide 6 billion U.S. dollars in direct aid and up to 24 billion U.S. dollars in loans.
3//The Daily Star Beirut, Tuesday March 25, 2003. Updated 08:30 AM
+2GMT
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/business/24_03_03_a.asp
BUSINESS: THE WAR ON IRAQ SPARKS NEW UNCERTAINTIES
By Henry T. Azzam
(Henry T. Azzam is Chief Executive Officer of Jordinvest. He wrote this commentary for The Daily Star.)
(SNIP)
Since the events cannot be reversed, the best scenario is for a short war, with little loss of life and minimal damage to Iraqi oil fields and infrastructure. An emergency government might be needed in the first few months to establish law and order, provide humanitarian relief and mitigate the effects of the war. The Iraqis should be allowed to take charge of their own country as quickly as possible, elect a new leadership and start on a major reconstruction drive.
However, even the best scenario could have deep complications and repercussions. For example, if the US is seen planning for an extended military rule of Iraq and the Iraqis are made to feel they have been defeated and occupied rather than "liberated," then the region is in for worse uncertainty and instability. Without a "road map" showing a clear vision for a democratic Iraq with its people fully in charge, the new situation could lead to more unrest and turmoil not only in Iraq but in other neighboring countries seen as targets for reform and change.
(SNIP)
This cannot be done without international help. The US motives in post-war Iraq are unclear. There are strong suspicious that the US undertook this war mainly to capture Iraqi oil wealth. The US should be very careful to avoid any impression that oil is the spoil of war.
The rise of substantial differences among members of the UN and the Security Council, NATO, the European Union and the Arab League does not bode well for global stability no matter how short and decisive the war. Furthermore, if the US does not vigorously commit itself toward a just solution to the Palestinian issue, stronger anti-American feelings will engulf the region.
(SNIP)
Oil prices closed the week at $25.5 a barrel for Brent crude and the expectation is that prices will trend toward the $20 level. Lower oil prices mean depressed oil revenues and rising internal and external imbalances for the Gulf states. The oil-producing countries of the region could then assume a lower growth path than what is anticipated. Saudi Arabia is likely to be affected most, given its contractionary fiscal policy and its large internal debt burden, estimated at around $168 billion at the end of 2002.
(SNIP)
The countries of the region who had established strong trade ties with Baghdad will feel the fallout from a US attack on Iraq. Jordan, Egypt and Syria will be affected most, followed by Lebanon and UAE. Iraq has become an important "captive" export market to its neighboring countries, the majority of whom have trade agreements with Baghdad. If the sanctions are lifted, allowing Iraq to trade freely with the rest of the world, the country's trade patterns would change and Baghdad may choose to establish new ties based on economic rather than political interests.
(MORE)
4//The Moscow Times Tuesday, Mar. 25, 2003. Page 1
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2003/03/25/002.html
CHECHENS GIVE A BIG 'YES' FOR STABILITY
By Timur Aliyev and Nabi Abdullaev, Staff Writers
GROZNY -- Turning out in record numbers, Chechens gave overwhelming support for a new constitution that the Kremlin hopes will enhance stability to Chechnya, according to preliminary results released Monday night.
With ballots from 292 of the republic's 418 polling stations counted, 96.1percent were in favor of the constitution confirming Chechnya's status as part of Russia, the Central Election Commission said on its web site. Only 2.6 percent voted "no." A similarly large number of voters on Sunday approved measures paving the way for presidential and parliamentary elections, the commission said. Turnout was 85 percent.
President Vladimir Putin said the results "surpassed all expectations" and showed the rebels have no popular support.
(SNIP)
Observers and analysts said, however, that Moscow has a history of rigging elections in Chechnya and that the preliminary numbers appeared to be too good to be true.
An informal poll of 50 Grozny residents on Monday found that Chechens are split about the credibility of the figures. But they said they were more concerned about peace than vote-rigging.
(SNIP)
The large turnout and huge number of ballots marked "yes" are remarkable for a vote in Russia, said Oleg Orlov, head of the Memorial human rights group. "What happened in Chechnya can be explained in two ways only: Either the ballot boxes were illegally stuffed with forged ballots or Chechens felt they had no choice but to vote in favor of the constitution," Orlov said. "In any case, there was no free vote in Chechnya," he said.
(SNIP)
Several Chechens interviewed Monday said that regardless of whether the referendum was on the up-and-up, they would support it if it brought order to the republic.
"I'm not asking myself whether the results of the referendum are correct," said Magomed Viskhadzhiyev, a student at Grozny University. "Those of us here think only about one thing: We need law and order. We cast ballots for a constitution that symbolizes order."
(SNIP)
Nikolai Petrov, a political analyst with the Moscow Carnegie Center, said the future of Chechnya rests on the economic deals Grozny cuts with Moscow, not the constitution. "The constitution is an abstract plan to organize state structures in Chechnya," he said. "In fact, under its new status, Chechnya has material needs that only can be provided for in economic agreements with Moscow."
5//The Japan Times Wednesday, March 26, 2003
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20030326a3.htm
JAPAN SHOULD LOOK TO REARM, ISHIHARA SAYS
WASHINGTON (Kyodo) Japan should bolster its military amid the growing tension over North Korea's nuclear weapons program, Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara said in an interview published Monday.
"Japan should protect its own airspace and sea," Ishihara told the Washington Post in Tokyo. "To do that, Japan should rearm."
Ishihara also called for freezing the flow of funds to North Korea and urged the government to classify the abduction of Japanese people to North Korea as an act of terrorism.
Asked about what should be done, he said in English, "revenge."
(SNIP)
Ishihara, who has announced that he will seek re-election in next month's gubernatorial election, left open the possibility of seeking a seat in the Diet or forming a party that might propel him into the prime minister's office.
(MORE)
* * *
© 2003, Gloria R. Lalumia, insight@zianet.com
Radio for the Left at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical/radio.htm
