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| September 5, 2003 |
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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. * * * 1//Foreign Policy in Focus, US-COMMENTARY: QUAQMIRE? WHAT QUAGMIRE? (In the months leading up to the recent war in Iraq and in its aftermath, Bush administration officials were forced to continually change their rationale for launching the attack to topple Saddam Hussein. Where they have not wavered, and where they have received consistent support from top Pentagon military commanders, is in their insistence that Iraq is not another Vietnam, not a quagmire. The further the U.S. and the world move from the fall of Baghdad on April 9th, the more it seems that the administration is correct: Iraq is not a quagmire. It is really a black hole.) 2//The Telegraph, UK--SEND MORE TROOPS OR RISK FAILURE, BLAIR TOLD (Jack Straw has issued a grim warning to Tony Blair that Britain and America risk "strategic failure" in Iraq unless they send more troops to improve security and speed up moves towards self-government. The Foreign Secretary's deep concerns about the "deteriorating" situation in Iraq are spelt out in notes drawn up for a meeting between him and the Prime Minister at No 10. The notes, marked "Confidential" and compiled by civil servants in several Whitehall departments, have been seen by The Telegraph…Mr Straw stresses that there must be "visible improvements" by the start of Ramadan (Oct 27)…He says that if, without the despatch of further troops, British soldiers face "another spectacular (eg against a British barracks) we and the US could otherwise find ourselves entirely alone".) 3//The Independent, UK--BLAIR LOOKS TO WHITE HOUSE TV BRIEFINGS TO COUNTER SPIN (Mr Blair has previously ruled out US-style daily briefings but is now said to have an "open mind". They are seen by some advisers as a way of ensuring the Government's message reaches the public without going through the filter of the media…The committee, chaired by Bob Phillis, chief executive of the Guardian Media Group, says there has been a "three-way breakdown in trust between Government and politicians, the media and general public". The committee adds: "The response of the media to a rigorous and pro-active government news management strategy has been to match claim with counter claim in a challenging and adversarial way.") 4//The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippines--GOV'T SAYS COUP PLOTTERS IDENTIFIED, 'HODGEPODGE' (The Government has identified the "destabilizing elements" plotting to topple it, Interior Secretary Jose Lina said Thursday, and belittled their capability to rally popular support. "There will be some mass actions here and there, but based on our assessment, they will not be able to mobilize a large number of people because they don't have the popular cause," Lina said in a media briefing after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's first command conference as acting defense secretary.) RELATED: DESTABILIZATION PLOT LINKED TO BUSH VISIT - SENATE HEAD (EFFORTS to destabilize the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may be intended to influence the US government's relations with the Philippines, especially as US President George Bush is scheduled to visit Manila next month, Senate President Franklin Drilon said.) 5//The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia--QANTAS RESISTS COSTLY MISSILE SHIELD SYSTEM (The airline's CEO, Geoff Dixon, rejected suggestions that it deploy expensive decoy systems against surface-to-air missiles, saying these would cost nearly $700 million to protect the international fleet alone…His comments came after the Prime Minister, John Howard, revealed that the airlines were in talks with the Federal Government over the possibility of deploying anti-missile systems.) * * * 1//Foreign
Policy in Focus September 3, 2003 Commentary In the months leading up to the recent war in Iraq and in its aftermath, Bush administration officials were forced to continually change their rationale for launching the attack to topple Saddam Hussein. Where they have not wavered, and where they have received consistent support from top Pentagon military commanders, is in their insistence that Iraq is not another Vietnam, not a quagmire. The further the U.S. and the world move from the fall of Baghdad on April 9th, the more it seems that the administration is correct: Iraq is not a quagmire. It is really a black hole. A quagmire is defined in the American Heritage Dictionary as (1) "land with a soft, muddy surface" or (2) "a precarious or difficult situation." In either definition, circumstances are not irreversible. A "soft muddy surface" suggests something more solid somewhere beneath, while "difficult" is not the same as impossible. But media reports the last week in August have made it very clear that the administration has plunged the U.S. over the lip--what is called the "event horizon"--of the human and financial black hole that is post-war Iraq. The significance of passing the astronomical event horizon is that whatever crosses it, even light, cannot recover or be recovered. It is a one-way trip down a "tunnel" at whose end there is no light, only crushing gravity. Consider the human costs of the Iraq adventure to date: (SNIP extensive list) The financial aspects of the black hole that is post-war Iraq are astronomical: (SNIP extensive list) One characteristic of black holes is that they grow in size as they absorb energy from the surrounding cosmos. Iraq has already snuffed out thousands of lives and absorbed tens of billions of dollars. President Bush reiterated that a "substantial commitment of time and resources" still lies ahead. Yes, Iraq is not a quagmire. But at a time when U.S. budget deficits of $401 billion this year and $480 billion for 2004 are forecast, Iraq looms as an ever-expanding funnel into which human lives, human talent, and monetary resources are being poured, never to be recovered. That, by any measure, defines a veritable black hole.
SEND MORE TROOPS OR RISK FAILURE, BLAIR TOLD Jack Straw has issued a grim warning to Tony Blair that Britain and America risk "strategic failure" in Iraq unless they send more troops to improve security and speed up moves towards self-government. The Foreign Secretary's deep concerns about the "deteriorating" situation in Iraq are spelt out in notes drawn up for a meeting between him and the Prime Minister at No 10. The notes, marked "Confidential" and compiled by civil servants in several Whitehall departments, have been seen by The Telegraph. In them, Mr Straw, who is understood to have approved their content in full, makes clear that the current military force is incapable of providing the level of reconstruction needed. It is also struggling in vain to maintain security against an increasing threat from terrorists. Mr Straw says that sending an extra brigade of 5,000 British troops would not only help improve security but would also demonstrate Britain's resolve to sceptical Iraqis and other coalition members. Equally vital, it could help persuade Washington to increase its troop numbers in Iraq, currently standing at 150,000. (SNIP) In his gloomy point-by-point analysis, Mr Straw says that "lack of political progress in solving the linked problems of security, infrastructure and the political process are undermining the consent of the Iraqi people to the coalition presence and providing fertile ground for extremists and terrorists". Mr Straw stresses that there must be "visible improvements" by the start of Ramadan (Oct 27). (SNIP) He says that if, without the despatch of further troops, British soldiers face "another spectacular (eg against a British barracks) we and the US could otherwise find ourselves entirely alone". The Iraqis had high expectations for reconstruction which were not being met. "Electricity generation still around 25 per cent below pre-war levels, and transmission undermined by looting and sabotage," he says. The Foreign Secretary mentions "short-term costs" of $127 million (£80 million) which will have to be spent "quickly and effectively". Most of the extra bill, he says, would be met by Britain. (MORE)
BLAIR LOOKS TO WHITE HOUSE TV BRIEFINGS TO COUNTER SPIN By Andrew Grice, Political Editor Press briefings given by Tony Blair's official spokesmen are likely to be televised as part of the Prime Minister's drive to end the "culture of spin" which has bedevilled his Government. White House-style press conferences by ministers and officials could become a daily event under a shake-up of the Downing Street communications operation that will follow the departure of Alastair Campbell later this month. Mr Blair accepted the recommendations of an independent group, published yesterday, which will dismantle Mr Campbell's empire and put civil servants rather than party political appointees in overall charge of government communications. The review was under way before the death of David Kelly but Mr Blair asked the committee to bring forward urgent proposals about his No 10 media machine in the wake of the tragedy. Yesterday the Prime Minister asked the group to consider whether daily "on camera" briefings would enhance transparency and whether some or all of them should be given by elected ministers. Mr Blair has previously ruled out US-style daily briefings but is now said to have an "open mind". They are seen by some advisers as a way of ensuring the Government's message reaches the public without going through the filter of the media. The committee, chaired by Bob Phillis, chief executive of the Guardian Media Group, says there has been a "three-way breakdown in trust between Government and politicians, the media and general public". The committee adds: "The response of the media to a rigorous and pro-active government news management strategy has been to match claim with counter claim in a challenging and adversarial way." This has resulted in all information from political sources being mistrusted. "The public now expects and believes the worst of politicians and government, even when there is strong objective evidence in favour of the Government's position," the report says. The Phillis team will now consider the media's role and Mr Blair hopes it will report politics in a more constructive way if his Government finally gives up spin. Yesterday he said the media "shares in the responsibility for improving this culture and enhancing relations to the public's benefit". (MORE)
GOV'T SAYS COUP PLOTTERS IDENTIFIED, 'HODGEPODGE' The Government has identified the "destabilizing elements" plotting to topple it, Interior Secretary Jose Lina said Thursday, and belittled their capability to rally popular support. "There will be some mass actions here and there, but based on our assessment, they will not be able to mobilize a large number of people because they don't have the popular cause," Lina said in a media briefing after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's first command conference as acting defense secretary. When asked to name them, Lina said: "There is a political component; there are some NGOs [nongovernmental organizations]. So it's a hodgepodge of desperate groups." He also said there were "remnants" of past coup attempts as well as "recruiters," and reiterated that their capability was "something that is not a basis for us to worry." "So far, there's no need to file charges against these groups because they have not committed any overt act" of destabilization, Lina said. He added that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) were "prepared to cope with any challenge to the democratic institutions of our society." (MORE) RELATED: EFFORTS to destabilize the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may be intended to influence the US government's relations with the Philippines, especially as US President George Bush is scheduled to visit Manila next month, Senate President Franklin Drilon said. "We suspect that all this talk about destabilization is connected with the Bush visit in October," Drilon told reporters Thursday. (SNIP) Drilon said persons spreading rumors of coup attempts against the Macapagal-Arroyo administration wanted to destabilize the situation "to create an uncertain environment in the country' and "influence" the Bush visit.
QANTAS RESISTS COSTLY MISSILE SHIELD SYSTEM Qantas is resisting pressure to install new systems to defend its fleet against terrorist missile attacks, throwing the responsibility for protecting its aircraft back onto government. The airline's CEO, Geoff Dixon, rejected suggestions that it deploy expensive decoy systems against surface-to-air missiles, saying these would cost nearly $700 million to protect the international fleet alone. Mr Dixon also questioned the effectiveness of the systems and said the best way to deal with the missile threat would be for governments in Australia and the region to identify potential launch sites near airports. His comments came after the Prime Minister, John Howard, revealed that the airlines were in talks with the Federal Government over the possibility of deploying anti-missile systems. (MORE) | |||||
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