World Media Watch for July 5, 2002

BUZZFLASH NOTE: Once again, these are the views and perspectives of the individual papers, not of BuzzFlash or Gloria. They offer BuzzFlash readers a way of reading what other nations are saying about the crisis, whether we like it or not. We repeat: This is not an endorsement of their viewpoints.

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1//The Guardian, UK--PRIVACY FEAR OVER ID PLANS (The "high-quality common population register" - which could cost up to £3bn to set up and run - will hold "core data" including the employment status of every UK resident who will be assigned a "unique personal number that could be used across the public sector". The idea, which has the backing of the home secretary, David Blunkett, immediately stirred "very deep anxieties" among backbench Labour MPs over the privacy implications of such a powerful government database.)

2//Pravda, Russia--RUSSIA’S PRESENT TO AMERICA ON INDEPENDENCE DAY (Right on the eve of Independence Day, a rather unexpected event has occured: Russian companies started direct oil supplies to the USA. Very few people believed that it would happen indeed. Beginning of the oil supplies is very important from both political and economic points of view. First, Washington demonstrates its interest in a close partnership with Russia not only fixed in documents, but in practice first of all. Russia’s Astro Lupus oil tanker will be met by US Deputy Energy Minister Michael Smith and US Congress members Nicolas Lampson and Ken Bentsen. This fact demonstrates the importance of the deliveries. )

3//Stratfor Strategic Forecasting, USA--PALESTINIAN THREAT AN ATTEMPT TO DRAW WASHINGTON BACK IN (The Palestinians are under massive pressure now that Washington has essentially decided to extract itself from the crisis in Israel… Attacks on American interests would bring severe retribution, but they would also force the United States to address the Palestinian issue again. The Palestinians think they can get a better deal from the United States than the Israelis. Since the Palestinians -- and thus the Palestinian problem -- aren't going to go away, any eventual resolution with the United States would likely result in some form of statehood.)

4//Ha’aretz, Israel--NO ‘MOST WANTED’ IN WEST BANK – FOR NOW (The IDF and the Shin Bet security services are currently facing a somewhat odd, though temporary, situation, where no terror activists in the West Bank can be considered their "most wanted." …Security sources do stress, however, this is only a temporary situation. Younger operatives will gradually gain more experience and status and start replacing the veterans, as has happened in the Hamas' northern West Bank branch in recent years…In contrast, there is still a clear hierarchy left in the Gaza Strip, that Israel is interested in damaging.)

5//The Daily Star, Lebanon--US REITERATES DISTASTE FOR HIZBULLAH (The senators, who all sit on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, are here as part of a regional tour that has already taken them to Egypt and Syria, ending with a stop in Israel. The delegation was headed by Democrat Bob Graham of Florida, the committee’s chairman…The US senators, who met President Bashar Assad and other Syrian leaders Tuesday, said they were told that Syria is “adamantly against terrorism and they will work with the United States to fight terrorism.” But Syrian and Lebanese officials have repeated their position that Hizbullah is a legitimate force resisting occupation.)

6//TheNewsmexico.com, Mexico--CUBANS URGED TO SAVE ELECTRICITY (The Ministry of Basic Industry said that Cuba produced 90 percent of its electricity power last year with domestic crude oil, and it expects to cover the country's entire electricity demand with Cuban petroleum by 2005. It is estimated that the Caribbean island nation will produce some 3.5 million tons of petroleum in 2002, the ministry noted…"The more electricity we use, the more oil we burn and the more foreign currency the country loses," he stressed.)

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1//The Guardian Thursday July 4, 2002
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,3605,748888,00.html

PRIVACY FEAR OVER ID PLANS
Alan Travis

Plans for a national population register of everybody lawfully resident in Britain as part of a "universal identity card scheme" were unveiled yesterday.

The "high-quality common population register" - which could cost up to £3bn to set up and run - will hold "core data" including the employment status of every UK resident who will be assigned a
"unique personal number that could be used across the public sector".

The idea, which has the backing of the home secretary, David Blunkett, immediately stirred "very deep anxieties" among backbench Labour MPs over the privacy implications of such a
powerful government database. Such national registers of the population have only been thought necessary previously as a temporary wartime measure, with the first one introduced in 1915 to
aid military conscription.

Mr Blunkett yesterday tried to reassure Labour MPs that personal data would only be transferred to other government agencies "for very specific purposes" and only with the consent of the individual.

But if the privacy implications of the scheme did not immediately disturb all MPs, the costs and charges detailed in the small print of the Home Office consultation paper published yesterday are likely to set the alarm bells ringing.

(SNIP)

The consultation paper envisages a scheme whereby the 51 million people in Britain over the age 16 would be registered on the database and issued with their own "entitlement card" which would
give them access to social security benefits, health and education and other services.

(SNIP)

The home secretary insisted yesterday that his "universal entitlement card scheme" was not a compulsory measure because the police are not to be given any new power to demand that people produce their card in the street. "Any scheme eventually approved would not entail police officers or other officials, stopping people in the street to demand their card," said Mr Blunkett.

Instead "everyone would register for and would be issued with a card, required for the purpose of gaining access to services or employment. Crucially the entitlement card could help us tackle
illegal working, which undermines the minimum wage and the rights and conditions of the lowest paid," he said.

When ministers were challenged on whether some services, such as the accident and emergency department of a hospital, would not be available to those without the entitlement card, they said such details had not yet been worked out.

Officially, the government is remaining neutral on the question of identity cards and while the Home Office document outlines the benefits in tackling illegal working and social security benefit fraud, it also points out that might raise concerns that the "card scheme might allow the government to link together all of the information held on individuals" and acknowledges that if the new cards were not secure, the scheme itself could become a source of identity fraud.

(MORE)

2//Pravda 2002-07-03
http://english.pravda.ru/main/2002/07/03/31745.html

RUSSIA’S PRESENT TO AMERICA ON INDEPENDENCE DAY
Vasily Bubnov
Translated by Maria Gousseva

Right on the eve of Independence Day, a rather unexpected event has occured: Russian companies started direct oil supplies to the USA. Very few people believed that it would happen indeed.

Beginning of the oil supplies is very important from both political and economic points of view. First, Washington demonstrates its interest in a close partnership with Russia not only fixed in documents, but in practice first of all. Russia’s Astro Lupus oil tanker will be met by US Deputy Energy Minister Michael Smith and US Congress members Nicolas Lampson and Ken Bentsen. This fact demonstrates the importance of the deliveries.

It is no secret that the USA wants to reduce the dependence of the US economy on oil import from Mideast countries. Russian oil is an alternative in this case. As of now, it is difficult to say to what extent the oil deliveries will be economically justified. The matter of the fact is that the first tanker with Russian oil has covered a rather long way: originally, the oil was loaded onto the tanker in the port of Novorossiisk, then by the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean seas, it was delivered to Houston. On the other hand, the route from the Persian Gulf is also rather long.

President of YUKOS, a Russian company that performs oil deliveries to the USA, Mikhail Khodorkovsky announced recently the intention to make oil supplies economically rational, one barrel of Russian oil is to cost $25 at least. It is to be taken into consideration that Russian oil is of a lower quality than the Mideast oil. And, consequently, its price on the world markets is much lower than $25.

On the other hand, if the project continues, Mideast countries will have no opportunity to threaten the USA with the cessation of oil supplies. Therefore, Washington is getting more chances for
the realization of its Mideast policy, and the USA appreciates this fact very much.

(SNIP)

And what is more, unlike the Middle East, Russia has no reason to blackmail the USA with cessation of oil supplies, and no reasons are likely to appear in the future.

On the whole, time will tell to what extent the project turns out to be economically justified. This is
just the first shipment of oil from Russia.

3//Stratfor Strategic Forecasting 3 July 2002
http://www.stratfor.com/fib/topStory_view.php?ID=205121

PALESTINIAN THREAT AN ATTEMPT TO DRAW WASHINGTON BACK IN

Summary

A threat by a Palestinian group to attack American targets is drastic but credible. The Bush administration is trying to ease its way out of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the Palestinians need Washington to remain involved, and they may resort to extreme measures to bring this about.

Analysis

The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an offshoot of Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, called on all Palestinian organizations July 1 to attack Jewish and American targets throughout the world in response to perceived U.S. efforts "to remove the legitimate leadership of the Palestinian people," the Jerusalem Post reported. The announcement comes after U.S. President George W. Bush last week urged the Palestinian people to seek new leaders.

The Palestinians are under massive pressure now that Washington has essentially decided to extract itself from the crisis in Israel. Since the Palestinians cannot defeat the Jewish state one on one, they must keep the United States engaged in the conflict however they can. Although attacks against U.S. targets would prompt massive retaliation, they would still accomplish the Palestinians' goal.

Arafat later distanced himself from the Al Aqsa statement, saying it was not made in his name. But there is no sign that he formally rejected the statement's content either. And Arafat will have a tough time claiming that he does not control the Al Aqsa organization, as Israeli and some U.S. intelligence agencies believe he recently authorized cash payments to the group.

(SNIP)

Palestinian supporters view strikes against Israelis as acts of resistance against an occupying force. Attacks outside Israel are much harder to justify. So what is gained by the recent threat?

(SNIP)

The Palestinians are in trouble if Washington truly abandons its involvement. For decades the Palestinian strategy has been to internationalize the conflict with Israel, bringing in other nations to push the Israelis toward a deal. Many governments, including the United States, felt that they had to put pressure on Israel to stay on friendly terms with oil-rich states in the Middle East.

But with Washington disengaged from the process, the Israeli military will have a much freer hand against the Palestinians and won't have the United States pushing it to make concessions toward a peace deal. The Palestinians will have a tough time taking on Israel by themselves.

The call for violence by Al Aqsa, while dramatic, is thus credible. The Palestinians will do whatever it takes to keep other nations involved in the conflict. They may be able to do so with threats. If not, they will have to employ other tactics.

The Palestinians would rather be hated than ignored. Attacks on American interests would bring severe retribution, but they would also force the United States to address the Palestinian issue again. The Palestinians think they can get a better deal from the United States than the Israelis. Since the Palestinians -- and thus the Palestinian problem -- aren't going to go away, any eventual resolution with the United States would likely result in some form of statehood.

4//Ha’aretz Thursday, July 04, 2002 Tamuz 24, 5762 Israel Time: 08:56 (GMT+
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=183022&cont
rassID=2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0

NO ‘MOST WANTED’ IN WEST BANK – FOR NOW
By Amos Harel

The IDF and the Shin Bet security services are currently facing a somewhat odd, though temporary, situation, where no terror activists in the West Bank can be considered their "most wanted."

Israel assassinated its last chief terror suspect on Sunday. Muhaned Taher, head of Hamas' military wing in the northern West Bank and thought responsible for the deaths of over 100 Israelis, was killed by a special crack force. In addition, the Israeli security forces systematic
attacks on the heads of the militant organizations has meant there are very few obvious leaders of those networks that have survived.

(SNIP)

This lack of obvious targets for arrest or assassination means the priorities of the security forces have been altered. The hunt for suspects is now less "personal," explain security sources. Operations will now be carried out according to concrete information on a possible suspect said to be planning a suicide attack, rather than on someone who has managed to create a wide
circle of influence for himself within the terrorist organization.

Security sources do stress, however, this is only a temporary situation. Younger operatives will gradually gain more experience and status and start replacing the veterans, as has happened in the Hamas' northern West Bank branch in recent years.

(SNIP)

In contrast, there is still a clear hierarchy left in the Gaza Strip, that Israel is interested in damaging. There most prominent three are the head of the military wing, Salah Shada, the head of the special attacks apparatus, Mohammed Deif, and the chief "engineer," Adnan al-Ghoul.

A senior defense source yesterday said Shin Bet has been providing the IDF with information on wanted Palestinians who should be arrested.

As the IDF continues its Operation Determined Path, 35 Palestinians - most of them wanted men - were arrested in various operations in the West Bank early yesterday morning. The huge number of detainees, which runs into the thousands, is creating much pressure on Shin Bet's interrogators. Former interrogators have thus been called up on reserve duty and some are currently working voluntarily after completing their quota of reserve days. Senior members of the interrogations department are also taking an active part in the investigations.

(SNIP)

Security sources do stress, however, this is only a temporary situation. Younger operatives will gradually gain more experience and status and start replacing the veterans, as has happened in the Hamas' northern West Bank branch in recent years.

(SNIP)

In contrast, there is still a clear hierarchy left in the Gaza Strip, that Israel is interested in damaging.

(MORE)

5//The Daily Star Beirut, Thursday, July 04, 2002. Updated 08:30 AM +2GMT
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/04_07_02/art2.asp

US REITERATES DISTASTE FOR HIZBULLAH
Visiting senators express ‘concern’ about resistance

Cilina Nasser, Daily Star staff

Three US senators visiting Lebanon as part of a fact-finding mission said Wednesday that the United States continues to take a dim view of Hizbullah. “The United States continues to be very concerned about Hizbullah,” Republican Senator Mike DeWine of Ohio said after the delegation’s meeting with Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The senators, who all sit on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, are here as part of a regional tour that has already taken them to Egypt and Syria, ending with a stop in Israel. The delegation was headed by Democrat Bob Graham of Florida, the committee’s chairman. Graham took part in a meeting with President Emile Lahoud earlier in the day but returned to the hotel afterward because he felt unwell.

Republican (sic) Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, who attended the meetings in Egypt and Syria, cut short his trip on Wednesday. DeWine said Hizbullah “is a group that has been responsible for US deaths in the past,” referring to a suicide bomb attack that killed more than 200 US Marines in
Lebanon in 1983. “Our position has not changed,” he added.

(SNIP)

In a statement, Lahoud said he stressed to the delegation that Bush’s ideas “could not be con-
sidered a plan that will end the (conflict),” because it contained only “ideas for the future.”

DeWine said he was unaware of Washington “having any discussions about (Hizbullah-Al-Qaeda cooperation) recently. There have been some news reports but there has been no official comment from the US government about it.” Lahoud, however, said he had stressed to the delegation that “Hizbullah forced the Israelis to withdraw from Lebanon” but that “there was no connection between the Lebanese party and Al-Qaeda.” The president added that “media controlled by the Zionists are responsible for propagating these claims in a bid to harm Lebanon
and the national resistance.”

(SNIP)

The US senators, who met President Bashar Assad and other Syrian leaders Tuesday, said they were told that Syria is “adamantly against terrorism and they will work with the United States to fight terrorism.” But Syrian and Lebanese officials have repeated their position that Hizbullah is a
legitimate force resisting occupation.

6//TheNewsmexico.com Thursday, July 04, 2002
http://www.thenewsmexico.com/noticia.asp?id=29464

CUBANS URGED TO SAVE ELECTRICITY
EFE - 7/4/2002

HAVANA - The Cuban media increasingly is calling on consumers to save energy.

According to official figures, Cuba spends more than 1 million dollars per day to generate electricity to power more than three million homes.

The media encourages consumers to save electricity by noting that if every home turned off a 60-watt bulb during peak hours, the country could save some 360 tons of fuel, which cost some 500,000 dollars at present world market crude prices.

The Ministry of Basic Industry said that Cuba produced 90 percent of its electricity power last year with domestic crude oil, and it expects to cover the country's entire electricity demand with Cuban petroleum by 2005.

It is estimated that the Caribbean island nation will produce some 3.5 million tons of petroleum in 2002, the ministry noted.

"We have sufficient generating capacity, but what we're trying to do is save the fuel thermoelectricity plants burn to produce electricity," Victor Puentes, the head of the state-run sector, said.

"The more electricity we use, the more oil we burn and the more foreign currency the country loses," he stressed.

(MORE)

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© 2002, Gloria R. Lalumia
insight@zianet.com

"When there was joy..." a bittersweet picture/remembrance of the good times...at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical

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