November 4, 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 NOVEMBER 4, 2005

1//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong--AL-QAEDA GOES BACK TO BASE (Al-Qaeda is in the process of a decisive ideological debate that could see the highly secretive group restructured within a year, with bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, and adopting a more open, centralized, approach. Two issues lie at the heart of the matter. The first is whether al-Qaeda achieves its aims by "fighting against evil," or whether it "fights against evil and its allies," according to contacts familiar with the group who spoke to Asia Times Online. The second issue involves al-Qaeda's lack of a physical base, a matter of concern to Islamic scholars, following its retreat from Afghanistan and subsequently being forced out of hideouts along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. … However, the contacts maintain that the al-Qaeda leadership is optimistic that by the start of summer next year they will be in control of significant "space" in Iraq and in Afghanistan, which would legitimize their jihad in the eyes of scholars. This would include appointing an ameer (commander) whose name would be announced, and al-Qaeda's irregular fighting would be organized under one command. The existing setup of small, virtually independent cells would be subsumed under the single command, and no one would operate on their own, as has been the trend since al-Qaeda lost their base in Afghanistan following the ouster of the Taliban in late 2001, and the intense pressure of the US-led "war on terror," which saw many communication and financial links severed. The cells would fall under single commands in Iraq and Afghanistan, from where they would be directed for external operations, such as launching attacks on the US. If al-Qaeda prevails over its internal conflicts and adopts the strategy as outlined above, it would be a major turning point not only for the organization, but for the whole of the Muslim world and beyond.)

2//The Scotsman, UK--CLARKE ADMITS MI5 DID NOT ASK FOR 90-DAY TERROR LAW (Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, has admitted that MI5 did not request a new law allowing terror suspects be detained without charge for up to 90 days - directly contradicting Tony Blair, the Prime Minister. Mr Clarke's admission, confirming advice first revealed in The Scotsman last month, came as government insiders admitted he is increasingly at odds with Mr Blair over whether to water down the controversial 90-day plan. The battle comes as Mr Blair turns his 90-day proposal into a litmus test of his authority - after postponing a Commons vote on the issue on Wednesday through fear it would be defeated.)

3//The Independent, UK--FAILURE TO QUELL RIOTING CREATES A CRISIS FOR FRANCE (… "It's hard to just sit here and watch the rich people driving past in their swanky vehicles. They have everything and we have absolutely nothing," said Ziad, 20, the ringleader of a group of young men who took part in the riots. "Sarkozy says we are like dogs. Well - we'll show him. Ever since he came to the government, life has been crap," said Abdul. Nicolas Sarkozy, the hardline interior minister in the government of Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, has become the bogeyman of the young rioters - who sense that they are to a winning ticket when they criticise his "provocative" use of language. The minister has drawn widespread condemnation from the left - and distinct unease within the cabinet - for his outspoken attacks on the racaille - or scum - that he blames for introducing a culture of drugs and petty crime in the worst-affected areas of the banlieues. After an earlier incident during the summer he said crime-ridden areas should be "cleaned with a powerhose." … Ministers are hoping that a mix of factors - worsening weather, the return to classes after half term and the end of Ramadan - will combine soon to bring the wave of copy-cat riots to a halt, but there is deep pessimism about the future. The banlieues have been the scene of regular outbreaks of riots for more than 15 years now - and though each peters out eventually, the next round is always worse.)

4//Xinhua Online, China--CHINA, RUSSIA SET FOR FUTURE COOPERATION (Chinese and Russian prime ministers drew up a blueprint of goals for future bilateral cooperation Thursday, highlighting the results already achieved. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Yefimovich Fradkov held the 10th regular prime ministers' meeting amidst Fradkov's on-going China visit. … The expansion of economic cooperation was high on the agenda of the meeting. According to Wen, the two sides have already inked 79 agreements. Dual-track trade soared from 5.46 billion US dollars in the first regular meeting to 21.2 billion US dollars last year."The figure is expected to hit 28 billion dollars this year," Wen said. … The two prime ministers also voiced support to relevant departments of respective countries on signing a pact for the construction of the oil pipeline and promptly implementing the decision for oil and natural gas exploitation and development. … China and Russia have issued a joint statement on international order in the 21st century. The two prime ministers stressed the statement is of great significance for pushing forward multi-polarization and promoting democratization in international relations and in the formation of a just and rational international order.)

5//The Toronto Star, Canada--NDP TO ANSWER LIBERAL HEALTH PROPOSAL TOMORROW (New Democrats are preparing to respond tomorrow to a government health-care proposal that could determine whether they continue propping up the minority Liberals. NDP Leader Jack Layton was expecting to receive the Liberal proposal late today, examine it over the evening, and pass judgment the following day. He has used increasingly hostile language to denounce Liberal corruption in recent days, and has hinted that failure to address health care would be the last straw. Other opposition parties are skeptical of Layton's threats. Few believe the government will collapse or that an election will happen in 2005. But Layton was adamant that he means business. "(For-profit health care) is gradually taking apart our medicare system," he said. We've seen no action by this government, despite various pronouncements. And we want to see rules put in place.")

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1//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong Nov 4, 2005
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/GK04Ak01.html

AL-QAEDA GOES BACK TO BASE
By Syed Saleem Shahzad

KARACHI - Al-Qaeda is in the process of a decisive ideological debate that could see the highly secretive group restructured within a year, with bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, and adopting a more open, centralized, approach.

Two issues lie at the heart of the matter. The first is whether al-Qaeda achieves its aims by "fighting against evi,l, or whether it "fights against evil and its allies," according to contacts familiar with the group who spoke to Asia Times Online.

The second issue involves al-Qaeda's lack of a physical base, a matter of concern to Islamic scholars, following its retreat from Afghanistan and subsequently being forced out of hideouts along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Regarding the discourse on al-Qaeda's enemy, on one side a major portion of al-Qaeda wants to remain true to the original goal of ousting foreign forces from the Persian Gulf region and ending the occupation of Muslim territories; on the other, a powerful group led by Egyptian Abu Amro Abdul Hakeem, also known as Sheikh Essa, who has strongly influenced elements in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, believes that the targets should be extended.

In al-Qaeda jargon, there are dajal (anti-God) forces, and there are pro-God forces. The US and its European allies are dajal forces, and remain the primary target of the majority in al-Qaeda.

(SNIP)

Asia Times Online contacts close to al-Qaeda say that recently the top leadership has become alarmed at the widening split within the organization and has begun consultations with all major Islamic jihadi groups and scholars.

Pending the results of these deliberations, expected by the end of this northern winter, a definitive and final word on the real course of the struggle will be reached, after which major decisions are expected on the shape and nature of al-Qaeda.

Back to base

Many among Islamic groups, scholars and educated masses in the Islamic world are sympathetic with al-Qaeda's struggle against US imperialism, but they have serious reservations over its shadowy nature and its methods of operation, many of which, they believe, go against the tenets of Islam.

From the days of the Prophet Mohammed it has been established that neither the message of Islam nor its struggle is a secret. Therefore, Muslim scholars are agreed that an Islamic state is a prerequisite before - and from which - jihad can be waged.

This places al-Qaeda in something of a spot, as nowadays it has no "home base" from which to wage jihad. In discussions in the past several months with prominent scholars and a top leader of an Islamic group (followed by Asia Times Online contacts), al-Qaeda leaders argued that they were fighting a defensive jihad as Afghanistan had been attacked and occupied, followed by Iraq. Since they don't have a piece of land in their possession, al-Qaeda has had to conduct irregular and guerrilla warfare.

However, the contacts maintain that the al-Qaeda leadership is optimistic that by the start of summer next year they will be in control of significant "space" in Iraq and in Afghanistan, which would legitimize their jihad in the eyes of scholars.

This would include appointing an ameer (commander) whose name would be announced, and al-Qaeda's irregular fighting would be organized under one command. The existing setup of small, virtually independent cells would be subsumed under the single command, and no one would operate on their own, as has been the trend since al-Qaeda lost their base in Afghanistan following the ouster of the Taliban in late 2001, and the intense pressure of the US-led "war on terror," which saw many communication and financial links severed.

The cells would fall under single commands in Iraq and Afghanistan, from where they would be directed for external operations, such as launching attacks on the US.

If al-Qaeda prevails over its internal conflicts and adopts the strategy as outlined above, it would be a major turning point not only for the organization, but for the whole of the Muslim world and beyond.

(MORE)

2//The Scotsman, UK Friday, 4th November, 2005
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=2191412005

CLARKE ADMITS MI5 DID NOT ASK FOR 90-DAY TERROR LAW
James Kirkup, Westminster Editor

Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, has admitted that MI5 did not request a new law allowing terror suspects be detained without charge for up to 90 days - directly contradicting Tony Blair, the Prime Minister.

Mr Clarke's admission, confirming advice first revealed in The Scotsman last month, came as government insiders admitted he is increasingly at odds with Mr Blair over whether to water down the controversial 90-day plan.

The battle comes as Mr Blair turns his 90-day proposal into a litmus test of his authority - after postponing a Commons vote on the issue on Wednesday through fear it would be defeated.

Throughout the debate on the Terrorism Bill currently before parliament, ministers have said they are enacting the wishes of the "police and security services" - claiming they say they need 90 days to investigate detainees.

Downing Street repeated this last night, saying it takes six to eight weeks to translate tapped phone calls into English and rake through suspects' household waste for clues of a terrorist plot. But Mr Clarke privately believes this time-limit is politically unsellable and must be reduced to a shorter period if the Terrorism Bill is to be passed by the Commons.

The Prime Minister's argument for the new power, contained in the Terrorism Bill currently before parliament, is based on the published advice of senior police commanders.

They say they need to be able to detain suspects for many weeks in order to carry out the investigations required to bring charges against terrorists. But, at times, some government members have also invoked MI5 - claiming that the security service had also asked for the new power at a Whitehall meeting following the 7 July suicide attacks on London.

While the police and MI5 often work together, they are distinct organisations with separate responsibilities.

In August, Mr Blair called the plan for a 90-day detention a "police and security service request."

Hazel Blears, the Home Office minister for counter-terrorism, last month said that "the three-month period is what the police and security service say is necessary."

But, as The Scotsman revealed on 18 October, Whitehall officials insist that MI5 has not directly requested or advocated any particular policy. Instead, the service has given ministers an analysis of what it could achieve with a range of different powers being considered.

Mr Clarke has now admitted the 90-day plan came solely from the police. " It is the police who, through their professionalism, came to the view that 90 days is right," he said. "The security service aren't committed to a 90-day figure, as such."

The minister accepted that, contrary to the suggestions from his colleagues, it would not be appropriate for MI5 to be making direct recommendations on government policy.

MI5 is known to see advantages in extending the detention period, but is rarely directly involved in investigations aimed at bringing criminal charges.

(MORE)

3//The Independent, UK Published: 04 November 2005
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article324589.ece

FAILURE TO QUELL RIOTING CREATES A CRISIS FOR FRANCE
By Hugh Schofield in Aulnay-sous-Bois

A badly rattled French Government was yesterday fighting to contain a wave of suburban violence that has pitted police against rioters in run-down neighbourhoods of northern and eastern Paris for seven nights in a row.

More than 315 cars were burned overnight on Wednesday in street battles that have extended well beyond the original flashpoint of Clichy-sous-Bois - where two adolescents were accidentally electrocuted to death a week ago - to several other parts of the capital's "banlieues" with high immigrant populations.

(SNIP)

"It's hard to just sit here and watch the rich people driving past in their swanky vehicles. They have everything and we have absolutely nothing," said Ziad, 20, the ringleader of a group of young men who took part in the riots.

"Sarkozy says we are like dogs. Well - we'll show him. Ever since he came to the government, life has been crap," said Abdul.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the hardline interior minister in the government of Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, has become the bogeyman of the young rioters - who sense that they are to a winning ticket when they criticise his "provocative" use of language.

The minister has drawn widespread condemnation from the left - and distinct unease within the cabinet - for his outspoken attacks on the racaille - or scum - that he blames for introducing a culture of drugs and petty crime in the worst-affected areas of the banlieues. After an earlier incident during the summer he said crime-ridden areas should be "cleaned with a powerhose."

Last night he was back on the attack, saying that "what matters is facts not words" and claiming the violence of the last week was all "perfectly organised." "What we have been witnessing is not in the least spontaneous, and we are trying to identify the organisers ... When you have live bullets fired at the forces of law and order ... the person who does it is purely and simply a yob," he said.

M. De Villepin - who is M. Sarkozy's undeclared rival in the 2007 presidential election battle - initially had some satisfaction at his interior minister's discomfiture. But now he too is under growing criticism for letting the situation drift and failing to offer more in the way of a solution than another vague "action plan" for later this month.

"It is time to start to manage seriously what has become a serious crisis," said Le Monde newspaper.

Ministers are hoping that a mix of factors - worsening weather, the return to classes after half term and the end of Ramadan - will combine soon to bring the wave of copy-cat riots to a halt, but there is deep pessimism about the future. The banlieues have been the scene of regular outbreaks of riots for more than 15 years now - and though each peters out eventually, the next round is always worse.

4//Xinhua Online, China 2005-11-04 04:21:15
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-11/04/content_3728184.htm

CHINA, RUSSIA SET FOR FUTURE COOPERATION

BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese and Russian prime ministers drew up a blueprint of goals for future bilateral cooperation Thursday, highlighting the results already achieved.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Yefimovich Fradkov held the 10th regular prime ministers' meeting amidst Fradkov's on-going China visit.

Wen described the bilateral ties as in "the best development period in history."

"The formation of the Sino-Russian strategic and cooperative partnership and the signing of the Good-neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation demonstrate the aspiration of the two sides to hold bilateral ties with strategic and long-term viewpoints," he said.

He particularly mentioned the lay-out for implementing the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation,approved by the heads of state of the two countries last year.

The document planned the direction for future development of bilateral ties, he stressed, adding that the two governments were satisfied with the implementation of the lay-out.

The expansion of economic cooperation was high on the agenda of the meeting. According to Wen, the two sides have already inked 79 agreements. Dual-track trade soared from 5.46 billion US dollars in the first regular meeting to 21.2 billion US dollars last year."The figure is expected to hit 28 billion dollars this year," Wen said.

To boost the cooperation, Wen proposed improving commodity structure and regular trade order; signing the agreement for the construction of the oil pipeline at an early date while enhancing power and nuclear power cooperation; signing a pact to protect and expand mutual investment; strengthening exchanges of scientific personnel and the transfer of scientific results; supporting cooperation along border regions; advancing educational, cultural, health, sports and tourist communication between the two countries; and holding China Year in Russia and Russia Year in China.

Fradkov also commended the "important role" played by the regular prime ministers' meeting. Through the joint military exercise and the approval of the complementary agreement on the demarcation of borders in the eastern section, Fradkov said, the two countries enhanced mutual trust and showed the aspiration of coping with new challenges and threats, protecting fundamental interests and territorial integrity and establishing a just and rational international order.

(SNIP)

The two prime ministers also voiced support to relevant departments of respective countries on signing a pact for the construction of the oil pipeline and promptly implementing the decision for oil and natural gas exploitation and development.

China and Russia have issued a joint statement on international order in the 21st century. The two prime ministers stressed the statement is of great significance for pushing forward multi-polarization and promoting democratization in international relations and in the formation of a just and rational international order.

(MORE)

5//The Toronto Star, Canada Nov. 3, 2005. 05:40 PM
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename...

NDP TO ANSWER LIBERAL HEALTH PROPOSAL TOMORROW
Canadian Press

OTTAWA — New Democrats are preparing to respond tomorrow to a government health-care proposal that could determine whether they continue propping up the minority Liberals.

NDP Leader Jack Layton was expecting to receive the Liberal proposal late today, examine it over the evening, and pass judgment the following day.

He has used increasingly hostile language to denounce Liberal corruption in recent days, and has hinted that failure to address health care would be the last straw.

Other opposition parties are skeptical of Layton's threats. Few believe the government will collapse or that an election will happen in 2005.

But Layton was adamant that he means business.

"(For-profit health care) is gradually taking apart our medicare system," he said.

"We've seen no action by this government, despite various pronouncements. And we want to see rules put in place."

The Liberals have already announced $41 billion for health care over 10 years, and are set to begin introducing waiting-times benchmarks that they herald as a step towards speeding up medical service.

But the New Democrats demand movement in two other areas; they want to see a written admission that private health care is growing in Canada, and concrete steps to combat it.

Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh said putting together the proposal was complicated because of federal-provincial jurisdiction issues.

But his office promised this afternoon to have something for the New Democrats to consider within hours. Both sides were not expected to comment publicly on the proposal before tomorrow.
Layton's opposition colleagues were taking his threats with a grain of salt.

"He's not serious — period," said Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe.

"Yelling like he's yelling, denouncing the Liberals (as) corrupt — he's very mad, very mad, very mad.

"He's really mad and doing nothing."

One Tory official made an even blunter prediction: "There won't be an election. (The NDP) is in the Liberals' back pocket."

(MORE)