September 7, 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.

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WORLD MEDIA WATCH FOR SEPTEMBER 7, 2005

1//The Daily Star, Lebanon--ARAB COMMENTATORS HIGHLIGHT U.S. IMPOTENCE IN FACE OF KATRINA (The death and devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina and the slow response to the catastrophe by the Bush administration has shown up the "impotence" of the world's only superpower in the eyes of many in the Middle East. Some of the more vitriolic commentators in the Arab world even suggested the hurricane was a just revenge for American "killing and plundering" across the globe, including its war on Iraq. "The Bush administration itself through its hegemony and enmity has targeted nations and people with all sorts of human Katrinas, shellings, killings and occupation," said Jordanian independent Arabic-language newspaper Al-Ghad. … . "The failure of the United States to deal with the consequences of Hurricane Katrina has highlighted the weakness of the American superpower," wrote Egypt's government newspaper Al-Akhbar. "[U.S. President George W.] Bush is seen as a bad omen by the people of the United States," added editorial writer Galal Doweidar. … . "Bush has failed twice: He is as incapable of handling the crisis in New Orleans as the crisis in Iraq," said another editorial writer in Al-Akhbar. A commentator on state television in U.S. arch-foe Iran said the response to Katrina showed the United States was a superpower "only on paper" and was "blind to the widening gulf" affecting the black population and the poor.)

2//Green Left Weekly, New Zealand--WASHINGTON BLOCKS IRAQIS FROM SPEAKING (A group of right-wing members of the US Congress close to the Bush administration has pressured the Italian government into interfering with an October conference in Rome aimed at building solidarity with Iraqis fighting to liberate their country from its US occupiers. The theme of the October 1-2 conference is “Leave Iraq in peace — support the legitimate resistance of the Iraqi people”. The Italian government has refused visas to the representatives of Iraqi civilian organisations who have agreed to address the conference. The Italy-based Free Iraq Committee, which has organised the conference, is campaigning to reverse the government's decision. Among other tactics, organisers are circulating a petition demanding the Iraqis be allowed in to Italy. … . Among the more notorious US politicians involved is Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida. She is tightly connected with ultra- right Cuban counter-revolutionary groups in the Miami area that helped George Bush steal the 2000 presidential election. Florida Governor Jeb Bush managed her campaign in 1990.)

3//The Independent, UK--RIVALS IN OPEN WARFARE AFTER CHIRAC’S STROKE RAISES STAKES IN SUCCESSION FIGHT BATTLE (With President Jacques Chirac in hospital for a third day following a "mini-stroke", the struggle to succeed him on the French centre-right has abruptly soared to fever pitch. The possibility, however remote, of an early presidential election has transformed the calculations of the two colleagues and bitter rivals who believe they are destined to lead France in the post-Chirac era. The Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, and the Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, have cast off all pretence and started their presidential campaigns in the past couple of days. … . M. Chirac's illness is bad news for M. Sarkozy. Three months ago, he was the "next big thing" in French politics. His position has been undermined by the apparent break-up of his marriage and the sure-footed, public relations performance of M. de Villepin since he became Prime Minister in early June. An early presidential election would favour M. de Villepin. Although no prime minister has ever gone straight into the presidency, the 50-year-old former foreign minister has not had time to become detested. Several months of half-rule by M. Chirac would place M. de Villepin in a quasi-presidential role. He will take M. Chirac's place at the cabinet meeting tomorrow.)

4//The Moscow Times, Russia--SOCIAL SPENDING A PRE-ELECTION TEST (With his plans to spend an extra $4 billion next year on education, health care, housing and agriculture, President Vladimir Putin is attempting to overhaul some of the country's most neglected sectors, and is also aiming to win public support ahead of national elections in 2007-08. While the ambitious plans could see the president and his chosen successor benefiting from the huge windfall the state is receiving from surging world oil prices, they also carry the risk of alienating millions of poorer Russians if the money is perceived as being wasted through corruption and inefficiency, rather than raising living standards. And since the money will come on top of next year's earlier announced budget spending, it could end up fueling inflation. "Russia's current capacity fully provides for achieving tangible improvements in living standards for Russia's people," Putin said Monday in announcing the spending at a gathering of Cabinet ministers and leading lawmakers in the Kremlin's plush Alexandrovsky Hall. … . "Spending much more on social needs usually starts ahead of the elections and since the end of Putin's second term is looming, the Kremlin feels it is essential to transfer a certain socially-positive image to a successor," said Irina Khakamada, leader of the liberal Our Choice party, Izvestia reported Tuesday. … . The initiative comes as demands grow from politicians and the public for the government to pursue a more leftist policy of social justice, where the state's oil bonanza is shared with ordinary Russians. The Kremlin thus has the choice of trying to buck this trend, and run the risk becoming increasingly unpopular -- or trying to ride the populist wave.)

5//The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippines--IMPEACHMENT DEAD BUT STILL NO CLOSURE (The marathon session of the House of Representatives yesterday ended in a rout of the opposition attempt to impeach President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but presaged a continuing political crisis, even another "people power" revolt. The 236-member House in plenary session upheld -- by a vote of 158 in favor and 52 against -- the committee on justice report dismissing all three impeachment complaints alleging that Ms Arroyo rigged the 2004 election, was involved in corruption and condoned human rights violations. … . But San Juan Representative Ronaldo Zamora, the lead impeachment lawyer, said he and his colleagues might consider the option of taking the fight to the Supreme Court. He said, however, the opposition had yet to discuss its next moves. "I'm distressed that we will end up this way by killing the one impeachment complaint that contains a truly substantial case and its evidence, killing a complaint that the President should answer and the public wants her to answer," Zamora said. He said peaceful protest action in the streets was likewise an option.)

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1//The Daily Star, Lebanon Wednesday, September 07, 2005
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?e...

ARAB COMMENTATORS HIGHLIGHT U.S. IMPOTENCE IN FACE OF KATRINA

By Agence France Presse (AFP)

CAIRO: The death and devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina and the slow response to the catastrophe by the Bush administration has shown up the "impotence" of the world's only superpower in the eyes of many in the Middle East. Some of the more vitriolic commentators in the Arab world even suggested the hurricane was a just revenge for American "killing and plundering" across the globe, including its war on Iraq.

" The Bush administration itself through its hegemony and enmity has targeted nations and people with all sorts of human Katrinas, shellings, killings and occupation," said Jordanian independent Arabic-language newspaper Al-Ghad.

Katrina, the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, has left thousands dead and many more homeless on the Gulf of Mexico, laying waste to the city of New Orleans and triggering widespread looting and reports of rape and shootings.

" The failure of the United States to deal with the consequences of Hurricane Katrina has highlighted the weakness of the American superpower," wrote Egypt's government newspaper Al-Akhbar.

" [U.S. President George W.] Bush is seen as a bad omen by the people of the United States," added editorial writer Galal Doweidar.

" The anger and revulsion of the American people over the impotence in handling the catastrophe also reflects disappointment with Bush, whose years in power are now linked with multiple crises, even natural disasters," he said.

" Bush has failed twice: He is as incapable of handling the crisis in New Orleans as the crisis in Iraq," said another editorial writer in Al-Akhbar.

A commentator on state television in U.S. arch-foe Iran said the response to Katrina showed the United States was a superpower "only on paper" and was "blind to the widening gulf" affecting the black population and the poor.

" Just as Chernobyl marked the end of the Soviet Union, which did not know how to help the victims, Katrina could have the same consequences for the United States," he said.

The Al-Qaeda linked group headed by Iraq's most wanted man Abu Musab al-Zarqawi similarly suggested the devastation wrought by Katrina was the beginning of the end for the U.S.

"It is the start of its collapse," it said in an Internet statement. "Just yesterday, America attacked, killed and starved whomever it liked. Today, it is begging for oil and food. America has been hit by a divine strike. The curses of the oppressed have been fulfilled."

In Amman, the English-language Jordan Times said the catastrophe could have implications for U.S. foreign policy.

"This can only mean that Washington will have less money and fewer resources, including human capital, to invest in foreign policy pursuits," it said.

"It may not be far-fetched even to conclude that the U.S. military involvement in Iraq could be affected by the costly job of helping two important U.S. states where much of the energy is being produced," it added.

(MORE)

2//Green Left Weekly, New Zealand September 7, 2005
http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/641/641p15b.htm

WASHINGTON BLOCKS IRAQIS FROM SPEAKING

John Catalinotto, New York

A group of right-wing members of the US Congress close to the Bush administration has pressured the Italian government into interfering with an October conference in Rome aimed at building solidarity with Iraqis fighting to liberate their country from its US occupiers.

The theme of the October 1-2 conference is “Leave Iraq in peace — support the legitimate resistance of the Iraqi people”. The Italian government has refused visas to the representatives of Iraqi civilian organisations who have agreed to address the conference.

The Italy-based Free Iraq Committee, which has organised the conference, is campaigning to reverse the government's decision. Among other tactics, organisers are circulating a petition demanding the Iraqis be allowed in to Italy.

According to the Free Iraq Committee, Italy's embassy in Baghdad had earlier agreed to issue the visas. Then, on June 28, 44 members of the US Congress sent a letter to Italy's ambassador to the US demanding that the Italian government stop the conference.

Six weeks after this letter was sent, the Italian embassy in Baghdad said it was reversing its agreement, based on a decision of the foreign ministry.

The US members of Congress accused conference organisers of supporting “terrorism”. They especially focused on one of the Free Iraq Committee's coalition members: the Anti-Imperialist Camp, which two years ago held a campaign to collect donations for the Iraqi resistance. Aside from 2000 euros used to send a cargo plane of medical supplies to Iraq from Austria, the AIC says the rest is being held to provide political support for whatever Iraqi political front is formed representing the resistance.

Among the more notorious US politicians involved is Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida. She is tightly connected with ultra- right Cuban counter-revolutionary groups in the Miami area that helped George Bush steal the 2000 presidential election. Florida Governor Jeb Bush managed her campaign in 1990. Ros-Lehtinen fully supported anti-Castro terrorist Orlando Bosch, who was connected with Luis Posada-Carriles and the bombing of a Cubana airliner in 1976 that killed 73 people. President George Bush senior pardoned Bosch.

(MORE)

3//The Independent, UK 6 September 2005 16:11
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article310564.ece

RIVALS IN OPEN WARFARE AFTER CHIRAC’S STROKE RAISES STAKES IN SUCCESSION FIGHT BATTLE

By John Lichfield in Paris

With President Jacques Chirac in hospital for a third day following a "mini-stroke", the struggle to succeed him on the French centre-right has abruptly soared to fever pitch.

The possibility, however remote, of an early presidential election has transformed the calculations of the two colleagues and bitter rivals who believe they are destined to lead France in the post-Chirac era.

The Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin, and the Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, have cast off all pretence and started their presidential campaigns in the past couple of days.

M. Chirac's extended stay in the Val-de-Grâce military hospital in Paris has also launched a war of words over the limited information released on the President's condition.

Two previous presidents, Georges Pompidou and François Mitterrand, concealed life-threatening illnesses. Left-wing and centrist politicians called yesterday for a full medical bulletin on M. Chirac in the name of "transparency".

Officially, M. Chirac, 72, has suffered a "petit accident vasculaire" - a small, cerebral vascular accident, or mini-stroke, which has temporarily damaged his vision. The hospital and his office insist the condition is not serious. Even if the President's illness is as temporary as the Elysée Palace claims, M. Chirac is now effectively locked out of all possibility of running for a third term in spring 2007.

With the Left still scattered by the "non" vote in the EU referendum, the battle for the presidential succession - whether in 2006 or 2007 - has erupted prematurely between the two most senior figures in M. Chirac's government.

M. de Villepin - never elected to any political office - openly laid claim at the weekend to M. Chirac's political legacy. He rejected suggestions that France was in decline and promised that the country could be prosperous and great again.

A few hours later, M. Sarkozy, president of the centre-right party, the UMP, spoke to the same summer university for young party members.

He called for a "rupture" with the consensus left-right policies of "the past 30 years". (M. Chirac first became prime minister in 1974.) M. Sarkozy, 50, attacked the obsession of right and left with the high-spending, big government "social model" that has "created so many unemployed, so many poor people and so many marginals".

M. Chirac's illness is bad news for M. Sarkozy. Three months ago, he was the "next big thing" in French politics. His position has been undermined by the apparent break-up of his marriage and the sure-footed, public relations performance of M. de Villepin since he became Prime Minister in early June.

An early presidential election would favour M. de Villepin. Although no prime minister has ever gone straight into the presidency, the 50-year-old former foreign minister has not had time to become detested. Several months of half-rule by M. Chirac would place M. de Villepin in a quasi-presidential role. He will take M. Chirac's place at the cabinet meeting tomorrow.

(MORE)

4//The Moscow Times, Russia Wednesday, September 7, 2005. Issue 3247. Page 1. http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2005/09/07/001.html

SOCIAL SPENDING A PRE-ELECTION TEST

By Valeria Korchagina and Oksana Yablokova

Staff Writers

With his plans to spend an extra $4 billion next year on education, health care, housing and agriculture, President Vladimir Putin is attempting to overhaul some of the country's most neglected sectors, and is also aiming to win public support ahead of national elections in 2007-08.

While the ambitious plans could see the president and his chosen successor benefiting from the huge windfall the state is receiving from surging world oil prices, they also carry the risk of alienating millions of poorer Russians if the money is perceived as being wasted through corruption and inefficiency, rather than raising living standards.

And since the money will come on top of next year's earlier announced budget spending, it could end up fueling inflation.

" Russia's current capacity fully provides for achieving tangible improvements in living standards for Russia's people," Putin said Monday in announcing the spending at a gathering of Cabinet ministers and leading lawmakers in the Kremlin's plush Alexandrovsky Hall.

Putin said the 115 billion rubles, or $4 billion, would be spent on "national projects," and pledged salary hikes for doctors and nurses, subsidies for rural communities, and increased funding for health care and education.

(SNIP)

But while the Kremlin sees the need to boost essential sectors like healthcare, education and agriculture, it also wants to find a way to keep the current ruling elite in power after Putin by law leaves office in 2008.

But to opposition politicians, the extra spending looks suspiciously like pre-election campaign pork designed to curry favor and create a feel-good factor.

" Spending much more on social needs usually starts ahead of the elections and since the end of Putin's second term is looming, the Kremlin feels it is essential to transfer a certain socially-positive image to a successor," said Irina Khakamada, leader of the liberal Our Choice party, Izvestia reported Tuesday.

While it has not yet been determined which state funds will be used to fund the $4 billion cash injection, it is clear that its original source is the windfall oil export revenues that the state has received this year on the back of sky-high world oil prices. Officials first started discussing how to spend the extra funds when the government earlier this year opted to base next year's budget spending on an average price of $40 per barrel.

The initiative comes as demands grow from politicians and the public for the government to pursue a more leftist policy of social justice, where the state's oil bonanza is shared with ordinary Russians.

The Kremlin thus has the choice of trying to buck this trend, and run the risk becoming increasingly unpopular -- or trying to ride the populist wave.

" If the Kremlin does not jump of top of this trend, someone else will," said Alexei Makarkin, an analyst with the Center for Political Technologies think tank.

But the social spending also gives the government a big opportunity.

Unlike its political opponents, including the Communists, Rodina, the liberals or Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the Kremlin can use its cash resources to say, "Others only promise, but we deliver," Makarkin said.

(MORE)

5//The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippines First posted 00:39am (Mla time) Sept 07, 2005
http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=49378

IMPEACHMENT DEAD BUT STILL NO CLOSURE

Arroyo wins; fight on with two widows

By TJ Burgonio, Norman Bordadora, Inquirer News Service

THE MARATHON SESSION OF the House of Representatives yesterday ended in a rout of the opposition attempt to impeach President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but presaged a continuing political crisis, even another "people power" revolt.

The 236-member House in plenary session upheld -- by a vote of 158 in favor and 52 against -- the committee on justice report dismissing all three impeachment complaints alleging that Ms Arroyo rigged the 2004 election, was involved in corruption and condoned human rights violations.

Six abstained and 20 did not vote.

At over 23 hours, the session that started on Monday was one of the longest in the post-war history of the Philippine Congress.

" It is time to put behind us this divisive episode of impeaching the President. It is time to embrace a period of healing and reconciliation for the nation," Speaker Jose de Venecia said after Bukidnon Representative Jose Miguel Zubiri explained the 158th "yes" vote for Committee Report No. 1012.

But San Juan Representative Ronaldo Zamora, the lead impeachment lawyer, said he and his colleagues might consider the option of taking the fight to the Supreme Court. He said, however, the opposition had yet to discuss its next moves.

" I'm distressed that we will end up this way by killing the one impeachment complaint that contains a truly substantial case and its evidence, killing a complaint that the President should answer and the public wants her to answer," Zamora said.

He said peaceful protest action in the streets was likewise an option.

" We will also give our evidence to Bukluran [Para sa Katotohanan] to see what they can do with it. Our effort of gathering evidence for three months will just go to waste if it won't achieve anything," Zamora added in reference to the newly formed coalition led by former President Corazon Aquino and Susan Roces, widow of movie idol and 2004 opposition standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr.

(MORE)

Copyright 2005, Gloria R. Lalumia