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 SEPTEMBER 22, 2004

1//The Guardian, UK--MURDOCH MAN TELLS OF DOUBTS ON BROWN (Gordon Brown's looming premiership will see taxes and public spending grow sharply as Tony Blair's restraining influence disappears and the new prime minister does more to redistribute wealth to the poorest, Rupert Murdoch's economic guru warns today. Irwin Stelzer, the US economist whom the media tycoon uses as both an adviser and an ambassador, gives a surprisingly ambiguous and waspish verdict on the chancellor's likely conduct once in No 10 -at a time when Mr Murdoch's British newspaper titles are starting to switch horses from Blair to Brown... Any glimpse of the Murdoch regime's thinking is of wider public interest because Mr Murdoch likes to be on the winning side and is not bashful at saying what he wants from elected politicians. Labour MPs and activists may be delighted that their favourite media foe shares their assessment of Mr Brown.)

2//The Daily Star, Lebanon--SYRIAN 'REDEPLOYMENT' RAISES QUESTIONS (The Syrian Army started dismantling some of its bases here on Tuesday, in what Lebanese and Syrian security officials dubbed as a "regular" redeployment, despite earlier reports of a long-awaited pullout. However, observers on the ground said that no major moves in the direction of the border have been spotted...Although officials both in Syria and here have avoided clarifying the link, the move comes a few days ahead of the expected report of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on the compliance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1559. Adopted earlier this month, Resolution 1559 urges the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Lebanon, but was originally intended specifically for Syria. The move also came amid growing pressure from the U.S., France, and the international community at large for Syria to leave.)

3//The Turkish Daily News, Turkey--U.S., SYRIA INITIATE TALKS ON MILITARY COOPERATION (Despite deep differences with Syria, Washington has initiated talks with Damascus in an effort to create a military-to-military relationship to help stabilize war-torn Iraq, Time magazine reported. Talks could even lead to joint U.S.-Syrian patrols along Iraq's border with Syria, which the United States accuses of supporting terrorism, interfering in Lebanon and violating human rights, Time quoted a senior U.S. official as saying... Spokespersons for the U.S. State and Defense Departments said they were unaware of the Time report and had no comment...Time reported that gaining Syrian cooperation to help stabilize Iraq could depend on the United States letting up on Syria on other issues.)

4//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong--TAMING TERROR IN ALGERIA (Violence continues to spread throughout Algeria, 12 years after the army aborted elections Islamists were set to win, prompting an uprising by Islamic extremists and a conflict which has killed up to 150,000 people, mostly civilians... Washington is concerned about the presence of al-Qaeda-linked groups in North Africa, and has stepped up military cooperation and technical assistance to Algiers since September 11, 2001, fearing an implementation of terrorist groups in the Sahel (sub-Saharan) region through the GSPC. "The West has changed its side and has expressed its support to the [Algerian] government," said Azzedine Layachi, a political-science professor at St John's University in the US, drawing attention to Algeria's expertise in dealing with terrorist networks.)

5//dw-World.de/Deutsche Welde, Germany--GAINS BY EXTREMIST PARTIES TROUBLE GERMANY (Germany woke up to fears that the political tremors sparked by state elections in Saxony and Brandenburg on Sunday could lead to deeper division within their country and scare off investors. Observers say the success of the Party of Democratic Socialism, the successor to East Germany's communist party, and the extreme right National Party of Germany (NPD) and German People's Union (DVU) in Sunday's elections show how angry East Germans are at the reality they face 14 years after reunification... By making themselves, as a regional party, the "mouthpiece of a part of Germany" they are deepening the divide between East and West, Interior Minister Otto Schily said of the party, which has only found success so far in the east.)

* * *

1//The Guardian, UK Wednesday, September 22, 2004
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/me...

MURDOCH MAN TELLS OF DOUBTS ON BROWN
Michael White, Political Editor

Gordon Brown's looming premiership will see taxes and public spending grow sharply as Tony Blair's restraining influence disappears and the new prime minister does more to redistribute wealth to the poorest, Rupert Murdoch's economic guru warns today.

Irwin Stelzer, the US economist whom the media tycoon uses as both an adviser and an ambassador, gives a surprisingly ambiguous and waspish verdict on the chancellor's likely conduct once in No 10 -at a time when Mr Murdoch's British newspaper titles are starting to switch horses from Blair to Brown.

In a lengthy assessment for the magazine Prospect, Mr Stelzer, who sees both men regularly as a Murdoch emissary, argues that it is a mistake "to see Blair as the sizzle and Brown as the steak" because the prime minister is more substantial than that - and Mr Brown can be as charming when he wants to be.

Any glimpse of the Murdoch regime's thinking is of wider public interest because Mr Murdoch likes to be on the winning side and is not bashful at saying what he wants from elected politicians.

Labour MPs and activists may be delighted that their favourite media foe shares their assessment of Mr Brown.

Mr Stelzer argues that Mr Brown is attracted to the risk-taking dynamism of the US economy, but warns that "his admiration is selective".

But he paints a more complex picture of New Labour's twin pillars than often emerges, including a rejection of Blairite claims that Mr Brown opposes public sector reform. His foreign policy would be less interventionist, Mr Stelzer says.

Just as Mr Blair has defied his party and public opinion to support the US in Iraq - something Mr Brown might be less inclined to do, Mr Stelzer says - Mr Brown is as capable as his friend at staging "a strategic retreat" when necessary.

He insists "there is no secret about [Brown's] goals: redistributing income from upper and middle Britain to the poor [and] replacing welfare with work".

(MORE)

2//The Daily Star, Lebanon Wednesday, September 22, 2004
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.as...

SYRIAN 'REDEPLOYMENT' RAISES QUESTIONS
Forces start pullout of some bases in Lebanon

By Nayla Assaf, Daily Star staff

BEIRUT: The Syrian Army started dismantling some of its bases here on Tuesday, in what Lebanese and Syrian security officials dubbed as a "regular" redeployment, despite earlier reports of a long-awaited pullout. However, observers on the ground said that no major moves in the direction of the border have been spotted.

As the country awoke Tuesday to reports of a near-complete pullout, security officials said that only 3,000 out of the country's estimated 17,000 troops will leave within three days.

Although officials both in Syria and here have avoided clarifying the link, the move comes a few days ahead of the expected report of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on the compliance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1559.

Adopted earlier this month, Resolution 1559 urges the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Lebanon, but was originally intended specifically for Syria.

The move also came amid growing pressure from the U.S., France, and the international community at large for Syria to leave.

President Emile Lahoud said "the repositioning falls under the bilateral cooperation between the Lebanese and Syrian armies aimed at supporting security and stability in Lebanon and at applying the Taif Accord."

The 1989 Taif Accord marked the end of the 1975-1990 civil war and stipulated the redeployment of the Syrian army to areas close of the border within a period of two years.

Speaker Nabih Berri, however, was the only one to put the redeployment in the context of the UN resolution. "Its timing is military and its background is political," Berri reportedly told visitors Tuesday. He reportedly dubbed the redeployment "proof that Syria respects international (UN) decisions."

(MORE)

3//The Turkish Daily News, Turkey 21 September 2004
http://www.turkishdailynews.com/FrTDN/latest/for2.htm#f23

U.S., SYRIA INITIATE TALKS ON MILITARY COOPERATION
Talks could even lead to joint US-Syrian patrols along Iraq's border with Syria

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Despite deep differences with Syria, Washington has initiated talks with Damascus in an effort to create a military-to-military relationship to help stabilize war-torn Iraq, Time magazine reported.

Talks could even lead to joint U.S.-Syrian patrols along Iraq's border with Syria, which the United States accuses of supporting terrorism, interfering in Lebanon and violating human rights, Time quoted a senior U.S. official as saying.

The United States has complained that militants, money and weapons have crossed into Iraq from Syria, fueling the insurgency against U.S. troops. Senior U.S. officials met last week in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who Time said, was interested in possible military cooperation.

Spokespersons for the U.S. State and Defense Departments said they were unaware of the Time report and had no comment.

Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who is visiting Washington this week, has sought to win regional cooperation to stem the insurgency in Iraq, which U.S. officials believe is designed to prevent Iraqi elections from being held by January.

Time reported that gaining Syrian cooperation to help stabilize Iraq could depend on the United States letting up on Syria on other issues.

4//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong Sep 22, 204
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/FI22Aa01.html

TAMING TERROR IN ALGERIA
By Ilhem Rachidi

RABAT - Violence continues to spread throughout Algeria, 12 years after the army aborted elections Islamists were set to win, prompting an uprising by Islamic extremists and a conflict which has killed up to 150,000 people, mostly civilians.

In spite of the mobilization of the country's security forces and a policy of national reconciliation aimed at reintegrating former extremists into society, insecurity still lingers in most of the country, and the presence of al-Qaeda-linked groups in North Africa has attracted increased international attention, especially from the United States.

Security sources on Monday said Muslim extremists killed four civilians and kidnapped a woman in an ambush in eastern Algeria. Gunmen posing as army troops set up a checkpoint on a main road in the province of Boueira, 120 kilometers east of Algiers, stopping cars and robbing their passengers. The gunmen opened fire on one car that failed to stop, killing four of its passengers. One survivor, a woman, was kidnapped by the gunmen and taken to their hideout in a nearby rugged mountain.

In a separate incident last week, five shepherds were reportedly shot dead by militants. In early August, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), a major radical militant group, killed several military and police officers, while losing several of its own members.

The country's military has to deploy considerable efforts to tackle Islamist guerillas. In his first interview, the newly appointed army chief General Salah Ahmed Gaid told the military newspaper el-Djeich that the fight against terrorism remained the priority of the country's armed forces. There are only small groups still in effect, he stated, describing them as "more and more insignificant but still able of [harmful effects] against our isolated populations".

The GSPC, responsible for the recent rise in violence, was added to Washington's list of terrorist organizations in March 2002. Although a heteroclite organization, it is the biggest militant group in North Africa. Since its creation in 1998 by former Armed Islamic Group (GIA) fighters, it has fought against Algerian authorities to replace the secular government with a hardline Islamic regime. More recently, the group has radicalized its positions and vowed allegiance to al-Qaeda.

Washington is concerned about the presence of al-Qaeda-linked groups in North Africa, and has stepped up military cooperation and technical assistance to Algiers since September 11, 2001, fearing an implementation of terrorist groups in the Sahel (sub-Saharan) region through the GSPC.

"The West has changed its side and has expressed its support to the [Algerian] government," said Azzedine Layachi, a political-science professor at St John's University in the US, drawing attention to Algeria's expertise in dealing with terrorist networks.

(MORE)

5//dw-World.de/Deutsche Welde, Germany 20.09.2004
http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,1594,1432_A_1333427,00.html

GAINS BY EXTREMIST PARTIES TROUBLE GERMANY

Germany woke up to fears that the political tremors sparked by state elections in Saxony and Brandenburg on Sunday could lead to deeper division within their country and scare off investors.

Observers say the success of the Party of Democratic Socialism, the successor to East Germany's communist party, and the extreme right National Party of Germany (NPD) and German People's Union (DVU) in Sunday's elections show how angry East Germans are at the reality they face 14 years after reunification.

The PDS rode a wave of discontent over Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's tough social reforms to 28 percent of the vote, making them second-strongest party in Brandenburg, behind Schröder's Social Democrats (SPD).

The governing SPD and conservative Christian Democratic Union "got a serious slap in the face," said Lothar Bisky, the Brandenburg parliamentary head for the PDS, a party that most analysts left for dead after their failure in the last federal election.

Left-wingers "divide" the country, says Schily

Though the party will most likely be excluded from a coalition government --- the SPD is more likely to pick the conservative Christian Democratic Union -- their success has nevertheless sent the government in Berlin a message, and one they don't like to hear.

By making themselves, as a regional party, the "mouthpiece of a part of Germany" they are deepening the divide between East and West, Interior Minister Otto Schily said of the party, which has only found success so far in the east.

The same goes for the NPD, which Schily tried and failed to ban two years ago. Based on their Sunday success, the right wing party can claim 12 seats in Saxony's parliament. The 9.2 percent they won was almost as much as the 9.8 percent of the Social Democratic Party, the party of Germany's chancellor.

Right wing candidate ignored on television

" Today is a fantastic day for all Germans that still want to be Germans," the NPD's top candidate, Holger Apfel, said during a round of candidate interviews in German station ZDF's studios. Soon after his comment, the other candidates walked off the set and the reporter broke off Apfel's diatribe.

Political scientists say the miserable economic climate and the anger of young East Germans that fuelled the NPD's Sunday success could spark a worrying trend.

(MORE)