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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--ARGUMENT: THE US DRAGGED US INTO THIS UNJUST WAR. IT MUST NOT DICTATE THE PEACE (After his one-sided war President Bush should turn his limited attention to Israel/Palestine and leave the UN in charge of Iraq. Will this happen? Judging by the inept diplomacy in the build-up to war, and the ambiguous motives for going ahead with the conflict in the first place, we fear not. But we should not allow Mr Blair or anyone else to play down the importance of precisely how the transition is managed.)
2//Tehran
Times, Iran--450 U.S., 4,000 IRAQI TROOPS KILLED (The Iraqi Army
has shot down 11 aircraft and 14 helicopters and destroyed
165 tanks and armored vehicles of the invading forces, killing 450
and wounding 730, said a high-ranking Iranian military spokesman
on Sunday, quoting sources in Iraq...Afshar added that forty percent
of the Iraqi Army has become ineffective. "It has lost 600 tanks,
150 cannon, and 4,000 Iraqi troops have been killed, 6,000 injured,
and 5,500 have been captured or have surrendered.")
3//The Jordan Times, Jordan--SURROUNDED BY GUNS BUT NO WATER, SOUTHERN
IRAQIS LOSE FAITH IN INVADERS (With persistent fighting, a lack
of drinkable water and only a slow trickle of humanitarian relief,
the better life promised by US-led troops is appearing more distant
by the day for the people of southern Iraq...Many people feel deeply
disillusioned with the war, codenamed by the United States "Operation
Iraqi Freedom." )
4//The
Japan Times, Japan--LAWMAKERS DON'T WANT SDF IN IRAQ WITHOUT WELCOME
FROM ARAB LEADERS (Japan's ruling coalition said Sunday that
any dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to help with the reconstruction
of Iraq would require the approval of the war-torn nations' neighbors..."The
SDF could and should take part if all (those concerned), including
the Arab nations, welcome this," said Fumio Kyuma, acting chairman
of the LDP's Policy Research Council. "But any such SDF dispatch
should be considered carefully amid growing anti-U.S. sentiment.")
5//The Hindu, India--AGNI-III TEST-FIRE THIS YEAR: FERNANDES (India
is developing `Agni-III', a long-range surface-to-surface missile
capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and is making all efforts
to test fire it this year, according to the Defence Minister, George
Fernandes...Asked about other missiles being developed by the country,
Mr. Fernandes said he would take pride in the success of `Brahmos',
a supersonic cruise missile jointly produced by India and Russia. "Apart
from Agni and Prithvi (a short-range surface- to-surface missile),
supersonic cruise missile Brahmos is something exclusive. Nobody
has this missile today," he added.)
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1//The
Independent 06 April 2003
http://argument.independent.co.uk/leading_articles/story.jsp?story=394410
ARGUMENT: THE US DRAGGED US INTO THIS UNJUST WAR. IT MUST NOT DICTATE THE PEACE
(SNIP)
The doubts and worries have always been over the management of the interim phase and what form the new Iraqi government would take. In opposing the war, The Independent on Sunday has argued that the conflict itself would be the relatively straightforward phase. Managing the aftermath in such an unstable country and region was always the more challenging task, a substantial argument for not going to war in the first place.
There are strong symbolic reasons for the transition to be managed directly by the United Nations. Such a move would help to reassure Iraqis that the US meant what it said, that it was liberating them rather than planning to take over their country. The symbolism would be even more potent if Iraqis themselves were to play a prominent part in a UN-managed administration. The alternative symbolism is dire: the "liberators" taking over short- term control. This appears to be President Bush's favoured option.
More important than the symbolism, there are pressing practical reasons for the UN's direct involvement. The transition is likely to be a long one. Consider the tasks: policing the inevitable unrest, managing the humanitarian crises that have arisen, rebuilding parts of Baghdad and, most complex of all, agreeing a new democratic settlement for Iraq. A US administration in Baghdad is likely to be viewed with suspicion and wariness at best. Such an administration is also one that is likely to run out of patience quickly. The evidence from Afghanistan, where there is ominous unrest, suggests that the US attention span once a war has been "won" is limited. The policing of Afghanistan, especially outside Kabul, requires much greater resources, but the interests of the US have moved on.
After his one-sided war President Bush should turn his limited attention to Israel/Palestine and leave the UN in charge of Iraq. Will this happen? Judging by the inept diplomacy in the build-up to war, and the ambiguous motives for going ahead with the conflict in the first place, we fear not. But we should not allow Mr Blair or anyone else to play down the importance of precisely how the transition is managed.
2//Tehran Times Monday, April 7, 2003
http://www.netiran.com/dailynews.html
450
U.S., 4,000 IRAQI TROOPS KILLED
By Our Staff Writer
TEHRAN -- The Iraqi Army has shot down 11 aircraft and 14 helicopters and destroyed 165 tanks and armored vehicles of the invading forces, killing 450 and wounding 730, said a high-ranking Iranian military spokesman on Sunday, quoting sources in Iraq.
(SNIP)
Afshar added that forty percent of the Iraqi Army has become ineffective. "It has lost 600 tanks, 150 cannon, and 4,000 Iraqi troops have been killed, 6,000 injured, and 5,500 have been captured or have surrendered."
The general said that the extent of civilian casualties is uncertain.
He added that U.S. and British officials were misinformed and had mistakenly believed that they were going to be welcomed by Iraqis. "Based on the fatwa [religious decree] of religious authorities, Iraqi people did not welcome the invading forces." Afshar warned that escalation of the war would have terrible results, saying, "Considering the current condition of Iraqi cities, there will be a massive humanitarian catastrophe."
3//The Jordan Times Sunday, April 6, 2003
http://www.jordantimes.com/Sun/news/news2.htm
SURROUNDED BY GUNS BUT NO WATER, SOUTHERN IRAQIS LOSE FAITH IN INVADERS
By Beatriz Lecumberri
Agence France-Presse
AL ZUBAIR, Iraq - With persistent fighting, a lack of drinkable water
and only a slow trickle of humanitarian relief, the better life promised
by US-led troops is appearing more distant by the day for the people
of southern Iraq.
While US forces entered Baghdad for the first time Saturday, down south the ground campaign is trudging into its second week. British forces are besieging the country's second city Basra, where they say hundreds of Iraqi soldiers loyal to President Saddam Hussein are holed up.
Many people feel deeply disillusioned with the war, codenamed by the United States "Operation Iraqi Freedom."
"Do you really think that they came here to bring us freedom? Certainly not. They're just here for our oil," fumed Mohammad, an engineer from Basra's suburbs.
He insisted Iraqis already knew British forces "very well."
"They already came to Basra during World War I and what happened? They killed us and stole from us. Our elderly haven't forgotten that."
And while today's coalition troops may be well-intentioned, ordinary people's constant run-ins with their new armed neighbours have not always been reassuring.
(SNIP)
"We want the war to finish as quickly as possible and for the foreign armies to go home. The Iraqi people won't accept a foreign government and in the end will confront them. So this is our peace," said Talib, a Koran scholar at Al Zubair's mosque.
But he urged the people of southern Iraq to be "more patient," as the good life they want could yet come after the war.
"Their (the troops') role is only to fight. But after that the UN and the Red Cross will come in to help us," he said.
But so far only a few humanitarian workers have headed into southern Iraq. The International Committee of the Red Cross still does not have an office in the area, with officials crossing the nearby border each day from Kuwait on specific missions.
(MORE)
4//The Japan Times Monday, April 7, 2003
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20030407a2.htm
LAWMAKERS DON'T WANT SDF IN IRAQ WITHOUT WELCOME FROM ARAB LEADERS
Japan's ruling coalition said Sunday that any dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to help with the reconstruction of Iraq would require the approval of the war-torn nations' neighbors.
Members of the three ruling parties -- the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the New Conservative Party -- debated the issue with opposition lawmakers on an NHK TV program.
"The SDF could and should take part if all (those concerned), including the Arab nations, welcome this," said Fumio Kyuma, acting chairman of the LDP's Policy Research Council. "But any such SDF dispatch should be considered carefully amid growing anti-U.S. sentiment."
Kazuo Kitagawa, chairman of New Komeito's Policy Research Council, said Japan should not dispatch the SDF unless Iraq's neighbors approve. He added that a U.N. resolution would also be a prerequisite.
But opposition lawmaker Yukio Edano expressed concern that sending the SDF during a de facto occupation could be extremely risky. Edano is chair of the Policy Research Committee of the Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party.
(MORE)
5//The Hindu Monday, Apr 07, 2003
http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2003040705020100.htm
AGNI-III TEST-FIRE THIS YEAR: FERNANDES
New Delhi April 6. India is developing `Agni-III', a long-range surface-to-surface missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and is making all efforts to test fire it this year, according to the Defence Minister, George Fernandes.
"The test firing of Agni-III is overdue and we feel the need for that long-range missile as part of our policy of deterrence," he told PTI.
He said Agni-III would have a strike capacity longer than Agni-II, which has a range of over 2000 km.
(SNIP)
Asked about other missiles being developed by the country, Mr. Fernandes said he would take pride in the success of `Brahmos', a supersonic cruise missile jointly produced by India and Russia. "Apart from Agni and Prithvi (a short-range surface- to-surface missile), supersonic cruise missile Brahmos is something exclusive. Nobody has this missile today," he added.
(MORE)
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© 2003, Gloria R. Lalumia, insight@zianet.com
Radio for the Left at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical/radio.htm
