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| April 28, 2004 |
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World Media Watch by Gloria R. Lalumia BUZZFLASH NOTE: WMW provides BuzzFlash readers foreign views and perspectives that are not usually available from the media here in the U.S. The presentation of these articles from these international publications is not an endorsement of their viewpoints. * * * WORLD MEDIA WATCH FOR APRIL 28, 2004 1/The Independent, UK--BURNING WITH ANGER: IRAQIS INFURIATED BY NEW FLAG THAT WAS DESIGNED IN LONDON (Already anti-US guerrillas are adopting the old red, white and black banner as their battle flag, tying it to their trucks and sticking it in the ground where they have their positions. This blend of nationalism and religion has proved highly successful in spreading resistance to the occupation. It is increasingly unlikely that the Allies will have any legitimate Iraqi authority to whom they can transfer power on 30 June, as President George Bush has promised.) 2//Agencia EFE, US--ZAPATERO: ALL SPANISH TROOPS WILL BE HOME FROM IRAQ IN A MONTH (Spain's new prime minister went before Parliament Tuesday to explain why and how his nation's troops are withdrawing from Iraq, and he said they will all be home, or en route there, by May 27...According to the Socialist prime minister, "Spanish troops will remain in the zone of operations (until May 27) to ensure security and logistics support directly related to the withdrawal." "We should not have gone to Iraq, and should, therefore, return as soon as possible," said the new prime minister. He expressed regret that the previous conservative administration of Jose Maria Aznar decided to send troops to Iraq without consulting the legislature, without the approval of the majority of the international community for the invasion and without listening to the "clamor" of millions of Spaniards.) 3//The Toronto Star, Canada--MILLIONS EARMARKED
FOR SECURITY (The government unveiled a national
security policy today aimed at shoring up Canada's
defences against terrorism, reassuring close allies
and allaying the concerns of wary minorities...The
government will also press ahead with efforts to
include biometric features in passports and other
identity documents, broaden North American border
security and help bring stability to struggling
nations...During a news conference, McLellan vehemently
denied government agencies practice racial profiling
- the targeting of individuals based on their race
- when assessing possible security threats...She
also tried to dispel any notion the security plan
was fuelled by pressure from the U.S. or other
allies to crack down on extremists.) * * * 1//The
Independent, UK 28 April 2004 BURNING WITH ANGER: IRAQIS INFURIATED BY NEW FLAG
THAT WAS DESIGNED IN LONDON For many Iraqis it was the final insult. Again and again they expressed outrage yesterday that Iraq's United States-appointed and unelected leaders had, overnight, abolished the old Iraqi flag, seen by most Iraqis as the symbol of their nation, and chosen a new one. "What gives these people the right to throw away our flag, to change the symbol of Iraq?" asked Salah, a building contractor of normally moderate political opinions. "It makes me very angry because these people were appointed by the Americans. I will not regard the new flag as representing me but only traitors and collaborators." The outburst of fury over the flag highlights the extraordinary ability of US leaders and the Iraqi Governing Council to alienate ordinary Iraqis, already angered by the bloody sieges of Fallujah and Karbala. And yesterday, in the hotbed of Iraqi rebellion, the flag was burnt in public in a demonstration of public anger. When, as expected, the controversial new flag is hoisted inside the security of the Green Zone in Baghdad today, there is little prospect that the flag will be fluttering over other Iraqi cities. When security officers at the United Nations undertake the daily ritual this morning of raising the standards of the 191 member countries up the white poles arrayed outside UN headquarters in New York's First Avenue, for Iraq it will be the familiar flag of Saddam Hussein's rule that is unfurled. (SNIP) Already anti-US guerrillas are adopting the old red, white and black banner as their battle flag, tying it to their trucks and sticking it in the ground where they have their positions. This blend of nationalism and religion has proved highly successful in spreading resistance to the occupation. It is increasingly unlikely that the Allies will have any legitimate Iraqi authority to whom they can transfer power on 30 June, as President George Bush has promised. As the security situation deteriorates in Baghdad, Iraqis are more often refusing to reveal their family names when interviewed. Jassim, standing behind the counter in his grocery shop, said: "That flag is not Saddam's flag. It was there before Saddam and it represents Iraq as a country. The whole world knows Iraq by its flag." A further reason for popular anger is that many Iraqis are convinced that their new flag is modelled on the Israeli flag. It is white with two parallel blue strips along the bottom representing the Tigris and Euphrates rivers with a yellow strip in between symbolising the Kurds. Above the stripes is a blue crescent to represent Islam. Iraqis say the blue stripes are suspiciously like those on the Israeli flag. They also ask why the Kurds have a stripe in the new flag but not the 80 per cent of Iraqis who are Arabs. Could it be because the Kurds are the only Iraqi community fully supporting the US? (MORE)
ZAPATERO: ALL SPANISH TROOPS WILL BE HOME FROM IRAQ IN A MONTH Madrid, Apr 27 (EFE) - Spain's new prime minister went before Parliament Tuesday to explain why and how his nation's troops are withdrawing from Iraq, and he said they will all be home, or en route there, by May 27. Premier Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told lawmakers that his decision to withdraw troops deployed in Iraq was made "responsibly," "was well considered," and had nothing to do with "any other circumstances," referring to the deadly terrorist bombings in Madrid March 11. He said the decision was made after contacting the United States, France, Britain, Central American countries that have troops in Iraq and different Arab nations and reaching the conclusion that it was impossible for the United Nations to take charge of the occupation before June 30. According to the Socialist prime minister, "Spanish troops will remain in the zone of operations (until May 27) to ensure security and logistics support directly related to the withdrawal." "We should not have gone to Iraq, and should, therefore, return as soon as possible," said the new prime minister. He expressed regret that the previous conservative administration of Jose Maria Aznar decided to send troops to Iraq without consulting the legislature, without the approval of the majority of the international community for the invasion and without listening to the "clamor" of millions of Spaniards. Aznar, who was planning to step down even if his Popular Party had prevailed in the March 14 elections, was one of President George W. Bush's staunchest supporters in the Iraq enterprise. Zapatero announced Tuesday that he would submit a bill to Parliament giving lawmakers at least some say in decisions to dispatch troops abroad, one of the Socialist Party's campaign promises. (SNIP) During Tuesday's appearance, Zapatero said once again that Spain would fulfill its international obligations to peace in any part of the world, but always within agreements that respect international law, and would not be indifferent to Iraq's present or future. (SNIP) Only the Spanish troops making up the contingent that was sent to support withdrawal still remain in Iraq. (MORE)
MILLIONS EARMARKED FOR SECURITY OTTAWA - The government unveiled a national security policy today aimed at shoring up Canada's defences against terrorism, reassuring close allies and allaying the concerns of wary minorities. Millions of dollars will be pumped into intelligence gathering, the assessment of looming threats, more effective response to health emergencies, stronger marine security and the ability to repel cyber-attacks. Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan called the plan a "major step forward" in fulfilling an important responsibility to Canadians. The government will also press ahead with efforts to include biometric features in passports and other identity documents, broaden North American border security and help bring stability to struggling nations. The overall policy is designed to protect Canadians, ensure Canada is not a base for terrorist operations and contribute to international security. The blueprint is the latest - and perhaps most detailed - Canadian initiative that can be traced directly to the unsettling events of Sept. 11, 2001. The announcement comes just days before Prime Minister Paul Martin heads to the White House to meet President George Bush amid nagging perceptions in some U.S. quarters that Canada fails to pull its weight in the fight against terrorism. Martin said today that the plan would be discussed during his visit. The security measures also emerge against a backdrop of heightened concern about the effect of the ongoing anti-terrorism push on civil liberties, particularly among Arab and Muslim Canadians. During a news conference, McLellan vehemently denied government agencies practice racial profiling - the targeting of individuals based on their race - when assessing possible security threats. "We do not profile." She also tried to dispel any notion the security plan was fuelled by pressure from the U.S. or other allies to crack down on extremists. "This is very much a made-in-Canada security policy." McLellan dismissed suggestions of lingering doubts south of the border about Canada's commitment to security. "We're not behind anybody," she said. "In some areas we're ahead." (MORE)
MILITANTS ASSAIL US POLL WATCH TEAM LUCENA CITY -- A militant party-list group assailed the deployment of some 100 American election observers to monitor the May 10 elections. "This arrangement is totally reprehensible. It smacks of interference. Without doubt, the US is keen on ensuring the victory of certain candidates who have pledged their loyalty to the US political and economic agenda," Crispin Beltran, Anakpawis national political party chair, said in a statement. Beltran said it is the sovereign right of the Filipino people to hold elections free from the interference of foreign forces. "The US could already be supporting a different candidate other than the incumbent," he said. On Sunday, in a statement released by Malacañang, the US Embassy in Manila said it would deploy observers to polling stations around the country to "observe the conduct of the May elections, identify best practices and provide recommendations for changes in future elections." The US Embassy team of watchers will join the contingent that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is also sending over to observe the elections. Beltran said the Macapagal administration signed on April 16 a "cooperative" agreement with the USAID and the Consortium for Elections and Political Processes Strengthening, allowing the foreigners to monitor and observe the May elections. (SNIP) "They have an ulterior agenda, and no doubt this agenda is in line with the US' efforts to maintain its stranglehold and influence over Philippine politics and government," he said. (MORE)
GADDAFI WELCOMED AS A FRIEND AT THE HEART OF EUROPE On his first visit to the continent for 15 years, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has been given the red carpet treatment by European Commission President Romano Prodi. The visit is a major step in his drive for international respectability. And it is already paying dividends - Prodi said that Libya will be given membership of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership on trade and aid "as soon as possible". He told journalists he was sure outstanding issues against Gaddafi would be resolved soon - a nod toward German claims for compensation for an attack on a Berlin nightclub in 1986 and questions over the fate of six Bulgarian medics held in Libya. Tripoli has found favour in the West after it accepted responsibility and began paying compensation for the Lockerbie and UTA airliner bombings. Gaddafi, referring to Prodi as his "brother", then invited foreign investors to develop Libya's oil reserves and said he wanted his country to become a "bridge" to Africa. He also called for cooperation from EU members states to stem the flow of illegal immigrants passing through Libya to the north. | ||||||
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