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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 MAY 5, 2004 1//The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia--LABOR TAKES NEW LINE OF ATTACK OVER IRAQI PRISONER TREATMENT (Labor has condemned the Federal Government for an "immoral disinterest" in the handling of Iraqi prisoners, arguing that Australia, as a founding member of the coalition, has a legal responsibility for their treatment. That responsibility as an "occupying power" extended to the protocols governing those mistreated by US military police at Abu Ghraib prison, near Baghdad, said Labor's foreign affairs spokesman, Kevin Rudd...Mr Rudd said the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, bore "corporate responsibility" for the treatment of prisoners that raises "most serious concerns about Australia's legal obligations as an occupying power".) 2//The Times of India, India--ARE INDIANS SLAVING IN IRAQ? DELHI ASKS US (India on Tuesday expressed concern over "disturbing reports" about the conditions in which some of its nationals are being forced to work in Iraq and requested the US Embassy here for details of those compelled to remain in the war-ravaged country against their will...Four Keralites, who were "cheated" by job agents and taken to a US military camp in Iraq, managed to escape recently narrated their nine-month-long ordeal in the camp as slaves. One of them said "We were slaves in American kitchens".) 3//Foreign in Policy in Focus, US--COMMENTARY: INTELLIGENCE QUESTIONS IN NORTH KOREA (As the United States continues to struggle with the intelligence failures that led to war in Iraq and preceded 9/11, the Bush Administration's politicized, inconsistent use of new intelligence coming out of Pakistan is complicating an already challenging assessment of North Korea's nuclear weapons...Because the administration has not had access to Khan, the intelligence presented in the Times article is, at best, third-hand information: first passed from Khan to his Pakistani interrogators, then on to U.S. officials, and finally to the New York Times...Despite this, the Times reported that during his recent trip to Asia, Vice President Cheney used the new intelligence to pressure China for "stronger actions" against North Korea...Juxtaposed with Mr. Bolton's statements concerning the intelligence previously reported in the Times-not to mention the somewhat dubious claims of the latter report-Cheney's rationale for "pressing" China is deeply troubling.) 4//The Guardian, UK--BLAIR BANKS ON ECONOMY FOR VICTORY (Tony Blair and Gordon Brown launched their fight to retain political control of the country's big cities yesterday by focussing on the capacity of the economy to deliver jobs and better public services. Launching Labour's local election campaign Mr Blair said the 15 million voters had a choice between the high priests of Thatcherism and a government with a strong economic record... One opinion poll yesterday had him trailing Michael Howard in popularity, putting pressure on him to stop the rot in the local elections and prove he is still an electoral asset.) 5//The Moscow Times, Russia--HALLIBURTON MAN TO SUB FOR KHODORKOVSKY (The Central Bank of Russia and U.S. oil services giant Halliburton may seem like strange bedfellows, but they have at least one thing in common: has-beens from both organizations will soon be working for jailed oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky...Gerashchenko will take Simon Kukes' spot as chairman, while Ortiz, who used to run Halliburton Energy Services, will replace Khodorkovsky himself. Observers said the board reshuffle is designed to give the company more leverage in its ongoing legal dispute with the Kremlin...A spokesman for Yukos' holding company, Group Menatep, denied the two men were selected to put political pressure on the Kremlin.) * * * 1//The
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia May 5,
2004 LABOR TAKES NEW LINE OF ATTACK OVER IRAQI PRISONER
TREATMENT Labor has condemned the Federal Government for an "immoral disinterest" in the handling of Iraqi prisoners, arguing that Australia, as a founding member of the coalition, has a legal responsibility for their treatment. That responsibility as an "occupying power" extended to the protocols governing those mistreated by US military police at Abu Ghraib prison, near Baghdad, said Labor's foreign affairs spokesman, Kevin Rudd. It is a legal contention disputed by the Government and academics but shows Labor opening a new front over Iraq as polls show support for the war is slipping and that more people want troops home by Christmas. In a Newspoll published yesterday half of respondents said it was "not worth going to war", up from 45 per cent previously. Four in 10 respondents thought it was "worth going". The poll, taken after the Prime Minister's Anzac Day trip to Baghdad, also showed 47 per cent backed Labor's position on withdrawing troops by Christmas, while 45 per cent endorsed the Government's stance of leaving the 850 personnel there until at least July next year. Mr Rudd said the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, bore "corporate responsibility" for the treatment of prisoners that raises "most serious concerns about Australia's legal obligations as an occupying power". (MORE)
ARE INDIANS SLAVING IN IRAQ? DELHI ASKS US NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday expressed concern over "disturbing reports" about the conditions in which some of its nationals are being forced to work in Iraq and requested the US Embassy here for details of those compelled to remain in the war-ravaged country against their will. (SNIP) Following reports that about 1,500 ex-servicemen were transhipped to Iraq despite a ban on sending people to that country, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha had yesterday announced in Chennai that a probe was being ordered into it. The Indian Government had banned sending people to Iraq from April 15 as the security deteriorated in that country. The minister had made it clear that the ban would be lifted only after the security situation improved in that country. Four Keralites, who were "cheated" by job agents and taken to a US military camp in Iraq, managed to escape recently narrated their nine-month-long ordeal in the camp as slaves. One of them said "We were slaves in American kitchens".
COMMENTARY: INTELLIGENCE QUESTIONS IN NORTH KOREA As the United States continues to struggle with the intelligence failures that led to war in Iraq and preceded 9/11, the Bush Administration's politicized, inconsistent use of new intelligence coming out of Pakistan is complicating an already challenging assessment of North Korea's nuclear weapons. (SNIP) Because the administration has not had access to Khan, the intelligence presented in the Times article is, at best, third-hand information: first passed from Khan to his Pakistani interrogators, then on to U.S. officials, and finally to the New York Times. Throughout this game of intelligence "telephone," the information could easily be subject to political interpretation and motives, not the least of which is Pakistani eagerness to deflect international proliferation concerns away from Khan. Further, U.S. officials acknowledge that Khan (a trained metallurgist, not a nuclear physicist) may not have the technical expertise to ascertain whether the bombs he saw were, in fact, nuclear weapons. Detailed tests would be necessary to conclude confidently either way. Stated simply, it is unlikely that Khan had the ability to determine exactly what he saw and the U.S. has no way of authenticating the information. Despite this, the Times reported that during his recent trip to Asia, Vice President Cheney used the new intelligence to pressure China for "stronger actions" against North Korea. According to an April 15 New York Times article, "Cheney Presses Beijing on North Korea Nuclear Program," the Vice President "'brought to the attention' of Chinese leaders a report in The New York Times...about the North's nuclear program." Juxtaposed with Mr. Bolton's statements concerning the intelligence previously reported in the Times-not to mention the somewhat dubious claims of the latter report-Cheney's rationale for "pressing" China is deeply troubling. The existence of North Korea's nuclear weapons program presents an incontrovertible proliferation and security threat that the U.S. must address-and with more flexibility and urgency than the Bush administration has demonstrated thus far. However, what that program has actually produced remains an open question. It is extremely difficult to assess the extent of North Korea's nuclear weapons program, and therefore, determine the surest route to a peaceful, negotiated settlement of this crisis. Hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake, should the situation on the Peninsula deteriorate into a military confrontation. The Administration should seek only the highest quality intelligence to guide U.S. policy decisions vis-à-vis North Korea. As we have seen in Iraq, the price of miscalculation can be very high.
BLAIR BANKS ON ECONOMY FOR VICTORY Patrick Wintour, chief political correspondent Tony Blair and Gordon Brown launched their fight to retain political control of the country's big cities yesterday by focussing on the capacity of the economy to deliver jobs and better public services. Launching Labour's local election campaign Mr Blair said the 15 million voters had a choice between the high priests of Thatcherism and a government with a strong economic record. Mr Blair had chosen the 25th anniversary of Lady Thatcher's moving into Downing St as prime minister for the launch and he said a return to the failed policies of the past would wreck progress. But he echoed Lady Thatcher's rhetoric saying: "In each of these communities of this country where there has been despair, we offer hope, where there has been underachievement we put ambition for the future." Mr Blair, Mr Brown and John Prescott travelled to a family learning centre in south Leeds to underline the point that the government's capital spending is having a practical impact. Mr Blair, with Mr Brown smiling by his side, took a string of questions about how long he planned to stay in the job insisting he had answered the question "hundreds of times before". Asked if it would be a success or failure if he lasted longer as prime minister than Lady Thatcher he said : "I do not stand here today wanting to emulate Margaret Thatcher. I stand here proud of what we've achieved as a Labour government and I want us to carry on achieving, to carry on taking the country forward, not backwards." One opinion poll yesterday had him trailing Michael Howard in popularity, putting pressure on him to stop the rot in the local elections and prove he is still an electoral asset. Mr Blair said: "For all the difficulties and criticisms people have got of the government and the prime minister I think the country does understand the economy is stronger, it can see the public investment is working. I say to people believe the evidence of your own eyes." (MORE)
HALLIBURTON MAN TO SUB FOR KHODORKOVSKY The Central Bank of Russia and U.S. oil services giant Halliburton may seem like strange bedfellows, but they have at least one thing in common: has-beens from both organizations will soon be working for jailed oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Yukos on Thursday unveiled the list of nominees for its board of directors, which includes "old-school" former Halliburton executive Edgar Ortiz and flamboyant ex-Central Bank chief Viktor Gerashchenko. Gerashchenko will take Simon Kukes' spot as chairman, while Ortiz, who used to run Halliburton Energy Services, will replace Khodorkovsky himself. Observers said the board reshuffle is designed to give the company more leverage in its ongoing legal dispute with the Kremlin. Both nominations must be approved next month at the besieged company's annual shareholders meeting. Yukos' main shareholders are either in prison or in exile. Khodorkovsky and his longtime partner, Platon Lebedev, are awaiting trial in Moscow on charges of tax evasion and fraud, which they deny. (SNIP) Anton Drel, who represents both Khodorkovsky and Lebedev, would not say whose idea it was to nominate Ortiz and Gerashchenko. "They were nominated by shareholders and a number of board members, but I won't say specifically who," Drel said. "The decision was coordinated with both Khodorkovsky and Lebedev so they know about it." A spokesman for Yukos' holding company, Group Menatep, denied the two men were selected to put political pressure on the Kremlin. "They won't have any political functions, likely they will supervise the company's operations," Menatep spokesman Yury Kotler said. Analysts, however, said just the opposite. "They invited Gerashchenko to try and build a bridge in one direction, now they've invited Halliburton to build a bridge in the other direction," said Brunswick UBS energy analyst Paul Collison. "That's very clever." The move is unlikely to help the company, however, despite Halliburton's links to Washington -- its former CEO is U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney -- and Gerashchenko's experience in state antechambers. "The Putin administration is not going to feel one bit pressured to raise the bar because an American, even from Halliburton, is on the board," Collison said. An old hand in Houston, where Halliburton is based, said Ortiz does not carry much weight in Washington. (MORE) | ||||||
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