February 2, 2005

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 FEBRUARY 2, 2005

1//Inter Press Service News Agency, Italy--NUCLEAR HEAT RISES OVER IRAN (…Dr. Shmuel Bar, a senior research fellow at the Interdisciplinary Centre in Herzliya near Tel Aviv says the chances of Israeli military action are low. "If we act unilaterally, we will be blamed, the Iranians will react, and we will not get public American backing," he told IPS. Israel, he added, must not turn the Iranian nuclear issue into an Israeli problem. "It is first and foremost an American problem." The United States cannot accept a nuclear Iran which would be able to "dictate its positions in the Gulf and in Iraq," says Bar. He foresees disagreement between Europe and the United States, leading ultimately to unilateral American action. "There could be an oil embargo on Iran with the American Sixth Fleet blocking passage [of Iranian vessels] in the Gulf." …But Shmuel Bar does not rule out the possibility of U.S. military action. "Bush is an ideological president and he isn't going to be running for a third term," he says.)

2//Gulf News Online, United Arab Emirates--IRAN MUST NOT HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS, SAYS US OFFICIAL (A senior adviser to US President George W. Bush met with top UAE officials yesterday to discuss Iran's alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons. John R. Bolton held talks with Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, and Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Information and Culture.… Bolton is widely regarded as one of the leading hawks within the US Government and is known to be a key ally of Bush. He was in the UAE as part of a regional tour that also included visits to Bahrain and Kuwait. Bolton told Gulf News the United States could not rule out using military force against Tehran over its alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons. "Our preference is to try and resolve this through peaceful and diplomatic means, but as President Bush said we never rule any option out. And that's important because our objective is to make sure that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons, and they need to understand how strongly we feel about that.")

3//Xinhuanet.com, China--CHINA, US SEEK STRONGER MILITARY TIES (Chinese Defense Ministry and its US counterpart rounded off their first special policy dialogue here Tuesday with both voicing their satisfactions, a sign of warming ties between two militaries of the two countries. The two-day closed-door talk covered a wide range of issues, including the Taiwan issue, maritime military security and exchange programs in 2005, said a Chinese military spokesman Tu Qiming, who is in charge of the American and Oceanian affairs in the Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) under the Chinese Defense Ministry. The two sides had "a very clear and direct exchange," said Deputy Under Secretary of US Defense Ministry Richard Lawless, who was leading the US side in this security dialogue…. The US officials here are "very representative, which demonstrates our desire to have a very good exchange," Lawless told Xiong, adding the United States would like to push forward the military exchanges at various levels…. This year will see exchanges of top military officials, professional staffs and military institutions between the two militaries, Tu said.)

4//The Daily Star, Lebanon--AFGHANS WANT JUSTICE TO EXORCISE HORRORS OF PAST ATROCITIES (Battered taxis ply the streets, shops are open for trade, people go about their business. But despite the apparent normality of the Afghan capital, no one can forget the horrors of nearly a quarter century of war, and all want justice. Most Afghans have spent half their lives or more in a climate of conflict…. Of 4,151 people questioned for the study, "69 percent identified themselves or their immediate families as direct victims of a serious human rights violation during the 23-year period." Many said some of these crimes lasted after the fall of the Taliban…. It said former post-Taliban defense minister Mohammed Qassim Fahim and deputy defense minister Abdul Rashid Dostam could be possibly be implicated, even if it was because they had done little to stop the atrocities. Abdul Rasul Sayyaf, leader of the Ittihad-i Islami party, was also mentioned, as was Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of the banned Hezb-i Islami party which is considered a terrorist group by the United States. According to the rights commission survey, 90 percent of those questioned "requested the removal of human rights violators from public office" and 40 percent wanted the "prosecution of notorious perpetrators.")

5//The Independent, UK--BASQUE LEADER URGES SEPARATION FROM SPAIN (The Basque regional leader, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, defended a plan for negotiated independence from Spain in front of a hostile parliament in Madrid yesterday, prompting the most intense debate for decades over the constitutional definition of Spain…. Yesterday was the first time a Basque leader had addressed MPs in Madrid since the end of Franco's dictatorship 30 years ago and, for Spain's political class, it was an important moment. Mr Ibarretxe developed his blueprint as the only political option to end Eta separatist violence.)

* * *

1//Inter Press Service News Agency, Italy Feb 1, 2005
http://ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=27267

NUCLEAR HEAT RISES OVER IRAN
Analysis by Peter Hirschberg

JERUSALEM, Feb 1 (IPS) - When Israel dispatched F-16 bombers almost 24 years ago to destroy Saddam Hussein's nuclear reactor in Osirak, the pilots knew they only had to hit a single target. Were Israeli or U.S. planes to be sent today to neutralise Iran's nuclear programme, the mission would be far more complicated: with Iranian facilities spread out, the pilots would have to strike targets across the country, and none of them a large, clearly identifiable reactor.

Speaking last week, though, U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney was not ready to rule out military action - by Israel. If Jerusalem became convinced, he said, that "the Iranians had significant nuclear capability, given the fact that Iran has a stated policy that their objective is the destruction of Israel, the Israelis might well decide to act first, and let the rest of the world worry about cleaning up the diplomatic mess afterwards."

Israeli leaders, extremely concerned by the prospect of a nuclear Iran, have been less brazen. If Israel acted alone, "we will remain alone," Vice Premier Shimon Peres said. "Everyone knows our potential but we also have to know our limits. As long as there is a possibility that the world will organise to fight against Iran's nuclear option, let the world organise."

With the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) discussing Iran's nuclear activities, the rhetoric has become increasingly shrill. Israeli leaders have long warned of what they see as the danger of Iran's nuclear programme to the entire region, and are hoping the Americans will ultimately prevent Tehran from getting the bomb.

(SNIP)

Dr. Shmuel Bar, a senior research fellow at the Interdisciplinary Centre in Herzliya near Tel Aviv says the chances of Israeli military action are low. "If we act unilaterally, we will be blamed, the Iranians will react, and we will not get public American backing," he told IPS. Israel, he added, must not turn the Iranian nuclear issue into an Israeli problem. "It is first and foremost an American problem."

The United States cannot accept a nuclear Iran which would be able to "dictate its positions in the Gulf and in Iraq," says Bar. He foresees disagreement between Europe and the United States, leading ultimately to unilateral American action. "There could be an oil embargo on Iran with the American Sixth Fleet blocking passage (of Iranian vessels) in the Gulf."

A growing number of experts now argue that a military option no longer exists because Iran has spread its nuclear facilities across the country and has not concentrated them in one place, as was the case in Iraq. There have also been reports of Tehran setting up dummy nuclear facilities.

A single air strike, therefore, would be insufficient to knock out Iran's programme. What is more, Israel is aware that Tehran would likely respond, possibly with long-range missiles.

This might explain why some in the United States today talk of regime change in Iran, rather than of military action. It is also questionable whether Bush, mired in Iraq, has the appetite for another major military escapade.

But Shmuel Bar does not rule out the possibility of U.S. military action. "Bush is an ideological president and he isn't going to be running for a third term," he says.

2//Gulf News Online, United Arab Emirates 1/2/2005, 06:30
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/NationNF.asp...

IRAN MUST NOT HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS, SAYS US OFFICIAL
By Chris Sands, Staff Reporter

Abu Dhabi: A senior adviser to US President George W. Bush met with top UAE officials yesterday to discuss Iran's alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons.

John R. Bolton held talks with Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, and Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Information and Culture.

The US Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security later told reporters in Abu Dhabi the meetings had been productive.

"We really see Iran as very isolated in the world, with essentially no support other than maybe North Korea for the proposition that they should have nuclear weapons.

"All the countries that we have consulted with have agreed with what our fundamental bottom line is, which is that Iran should not possess nuclear weapons."

Bolton is widely regarded as one of the leading hawks within the US Government and is known to be a key ally of Bush. He was in the UAE as part of a regional tour that also included visits to Bahrain and Kuwait.

Bolton told Gulf News the United States could not rule out using military force against Tehran over its alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons.

"Our preference is to try and resolve this through peaceful and diplomatic means, but as President Bush said we never rule any option out. And that's important because our objective is to make sure that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons, and they need to understand how strongly we feel about that."

Tehran has chosen to freeze its uranium enrichment programme following intense pressure from the international community. However, Bolton said yesterday America remained sceptical about the Islamic Republic's intentions.

"We favour a Middle East free of all weapons of mass destruction," he said.

At present Israel is the only country in the region known to have nuclear weapons, but Bolton told Gulf News the United States would not be calling for the Jewish state to give up its stockpile.

"I think the responsibility of the government of the United States is to protect its people first and foremost, and Israel is not a threat to the United States," he said.

(MORE)

3//Xinhuanet.com, China 2005-02-01 20:06:43
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/...

CHINA, US SEEK STRONGER MILITARY TIES
By Xiong Zhengyan

BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Defense Ministry and its US counterpart rounded off their first special policy dialogue here Tuesday with both voicing their satisfactions, a sign of warming ties between two militaries of the two countries.

The two-day closed-door talk covered a wide range of issues, including the Taiwan issue, maritime military security and exchange programs in 2005, said a Chinese military spokesman Tu Qiming, who is in charge of the American and Oceanian affairs in the Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) under the Chinese Defense Ministry.

The two sides had "a very clear and direct exchange," said Deputy Under Secretary of US Defense Ministry Richard Lawless, who was leading the US side in this security dialogue.

We are "pleasantly surprised and pleased" with many issues being discussed and we know we are "successful in some areas," said Lawless, who is responsible for the Asia Pacific region in the US defense ministry.

The Chinese side is satisfied with the dialogue, as the meeting was conducted in a "candid, cooperative and constructive" atmosphere and the result is "fruitful," Tu gave a media briefing, after Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Xiong Guangkai held a talk with Lawless Tuesday morning.

The US officials here are "very representative, which demonstrates our desire to have a very good exchange," Lawless told Xiong, adding the United States would like to push forward the military exchanges at various levels.

(SNIP)

According to Tu's briefing Monday, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld expressed the interest to visit China this year, but the exact date was still under discussion.

"Both sides agreed to promote their military ties through more pragmatic exchanges," Tu said.

This year will see exchanges of top military officials, professional staffs and military institutions between the two militaries, Tu said.

Citing the on-going communication between the two ministries as "smooth," Tu said installing a hotline between the two ministries is under discussion.

Tu also said the two sides did not touch upon the European Union's arms embargo against China or nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula.

Last week, a US delegation headed by former US Defense Secretary William Perry came to east China's Shanghai for a seminar on Sino-US security.

Perry was also hosted by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan.

4//The Daily Star, Lebanon Wednesday, February 02, 2005
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition...

AFGHANS WANT JUSTICE TO EXORCISE HORRORS OF PAST ATROCITIES
By Shoaib Najafizada, Agence France Presse

KABUL: Battered taxis ply the streets, shops are open for trade, people go about their business. But despite the apparent normality of the Afghan capital, no one can forget the horrors of nearly a quarter century of war, and all want justice.

Most Afghans have spent half their lives or more in a climate of conflict: the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation, the ensuing civil war (1992-1996) and the brutal Taliban regime (1996-2001).

(SNIP)

War crimes were perpetrated by all factions under the Soviet occupation, the civil war and the Taliban regime, and included mass rapes, large-scale massacres, disappearances and summary executions, and the indiscriminate bombing of civilians, rights officials have said.

According to a study by the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission released on Saturday, few people escaped such atrocities unscathed.

Of 4,151 people questioned for the study, "69 percent identified themselves or their immediate families as direct victims of a serious human rights violation during the 23-year period."

Many said some of these crimes lasted after the fall of the Taliban.

A quarter of the respondents said at least one member of their family had been killed and nearly 400 said they themselves or their close relations had been tortured or detained.

"These are staggering statistics in comparison to any other conflict in the world," the commission said.

Advocacy group the Afghanistan Justice Project documented some of the war crimes and crimes against humanity in a report in October.

It said former post-Taliban defense minister Mohammed Qassim Fahim and deputy defense minister Abdul Rashid Dostam could be possibly be implicated, even if it was because they had done little to stop the atrocities.

Abdul Rasul Sayyaf, leader of the Ittihad-i Islami party, was also mentioned, as was Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of the banned Hezb-i Islami party which is considered a terrorist group by the United States.

According to the rights commission survey, 90 percent of those questioned "requested the removal of human rights violators from public office" and 40 percent wanted the "prosecution of notorious perpetrators."

(SNIP)

Three years after the fall of the Taliban, Abdul Hakim, Mohammed Nazir, Ghulam Sakhy and Mohammed Yaqub have a tranquil existence.

Hakim has his estate agency and Nazir's taxi plies the streets; Sakhy's son works for the UN and Yaqub's trade in clothes imported from China and Pakistan in flourishing.

But despite having moved on, they are not prepared to just turn the page on past atrocities.

"The government must ask the warlords and the criminals why they have committed these crimes," Nazir said.

"They must create a special court to judge these people," said Sakhy.

5//The Independent, UK 02 February 2005
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=606833

BASQUE LEADER URGES SEPARATION FROM SPAIN
By Elizabeth Nash in Madrid

The Basque regional leader, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, defended a plan for negotiated independence from Spain in front of a hostile parliament in Madrid yesterday, prompting the most intense debate for decades over the constitutional definition of Spain.

"I have come here to defend the right of the Basque people to define their future," Mr Ibarretxe said, as he put forward his plan for "free association" with Spain. "We come with our hand outstretched; don't spurn it. This is a democratic proposal, open to negotiation," he insisted.

The plan, which proposes a Basque legal system and representation in international bodies, is backed by the region's autonomous parliament, although an important regional minority opposes it.

Yesterday was the first time a Basque leader had addressed MPs in Madrid since the end of Franco's dictatorship 30 years ago and, for Spain's political class, it was an important moment. Mr Ibarretxe developed his blueprint as the only political option to end Eta separatist violence. "No one has damaged the Basque people more than the violent barbarity of Eta," he said. But the odds were stacked against Mr Ibarretxe, since Madrid's ruling Socialists and the opposition Popular Party opposed the plan as unconstitutional, and it was expected to be defeated by about 300 votes.

The Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, rejected the plan but opened the door to a broader agreement that could reconcile Basques' desire for more self-rule with Spain's definition as a regionally diverse state. "Your aspirations for greater areas of self-government are possible through dialogue," Mr Zapatero said.

(MORE)