by Gloria R. Lalumia
World
Media Watch
by Gloria R. Lalumia
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 Independent, UK--TANKS WILL BE READY FOR DESERT WAR, SAYS HOON (Geoff Hoon, the Secretary of State for Defence, spelt out preparations for a war against Iraq last night, promising to get Britain's battle tanks and rifles ready for a strike against Saddam Hussein...But the Defence Secretary told MPs that a contract to modify Britain's main battle tank and ensure that its filters did not clog with sand had already been issued. The minister also assured MPs that Army assault rifles, which were criticised in a recent House of Commons report for jamming in the desert, would be in working order.)
2//The News International, Pakistan--MMA GOVT TO BLOCK AL-AQEDA HUNT IN TRIBAL AREA: DURRANI (The MMA, leading the NWFP's new parliament, vowed on Tuesday to block the manhunt for al-Qaeda in their tribal-dominated region, where the US military believe hundreds of the extremists are hiding...Durrani, from the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and controls 68 seats in the 124-seat house, is the only candidate so far for the chief minister. The position would be chosen by the provincial assembly on Friday.)
3//TurkishPress.com.
USA--ZORLU: OPERATION AGAINST IRAQ INCREASES TERROR IN AFGHANISTAN (International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Commander Hilmi Akin Zorlu said on Tuesday
that an operation against Iraq will increase terrorist actions in Afghanistan.
Zorlu who addressed Turkish reporters in New York where he will hold contacts
said that only 850 of 4800 people in the personnel provide order and the
rest work in logistics and headquarters, adding that there are 20 million
mines in Afghanistan and they destroyed 107 thousand rockets, missiles
and such weapons since they started their mission.)
4//Arab News, Saudi Arabia--AN AMERICAN LESSON (It seems that the number
of people eager to express their love for us is on the increase these
days. The latest on the list is Elizabeth, daughter of US Vice President
Dick Cheney. She is leading a State Department-sponsored campaign to bring
information to Arab and Muslim women concerning democracy and freedom
from an American perspective... A simple calculation will show that each
woman will cost the American treasury more than $1 million. The figures
pale when compared to the objective. The United States, this virtuous
state, has now decided to play the role of reformer for the Arab and Muslim
nation, even if it is done by coercion.)
5//The Moscow Times, Russia--OPINION: WHITHER THE U.S.-RUSSIAN PARTNERSHIP?
(This partnership, however, needs fresh impetus. Without a more forward-looking
agenda, it could stagnate or deteriorate, if the United States and Russia
continue to disagree over issues involving Russia's ties to Iraq, Iran
and North Korea. U.S.-Russian ties must have a stronger foundation than
a common enemy. There are several areas where Russia and the United States
have compelling reasons to cooperate, areas that could provide a firmer
basis for a partnership based on mutual interest.)
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1//The
Independent 27 November 2002 01:09 GMT
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=355936
TANKS
WILL BE READY FOR DESERT WAR, SAYS HOON
By Marie Woolf and Nigel Morris
26 November 2002
Geoff Hoon, the Secretary of State for Defence, spelt out preparations for a war against Iraq last night, promising to get Britain's battle tanks and rifles ready for a strike against Saddam Hussein.
He told the Commons that the Challenger II tank, which has been heavily criticised for its poor performance in sandy conditions, was being modified to cope with the desert.
Mr Hoon's intervention came amid a rebellion by a die-hard group of Labour rebels. Thirty-two Labour MPs, including the former ministers Glenda Jackson and Peter Kilfoyle, voted for a Liberal Democrat amendment opposing the deployment of troops without a UN mandate or a vote in Parliament.
The minister said that military action was not "inevitable" but informed MPs that he had made preparations for calling up reserves. "In due course, it may become necessary on an informal basis to sound out reserves and their employers," he said.
(SNIP)
But the Defence Secretary told MPs that a contract to modify Britain's main battle tank and ensure that its filters did not clog with sand had already been issued.
The minister also assured MPs that Army assault rifles, which were criticised in a recent House of Commons report for jamming in the desert, would be in working order. He said that troops would be provided with boots and other kit suitable for desert warfare.
(SNIP)
Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, signalled earlier that the Government could send British troops to Iraq without approval from MPs. Opening a five-hour Commons debate on Iraq, Mr Straw sought to reassure Labour critics that Britain was not preparing for an inevitable US-led war against President Saddam.
Mr Straw struck a more conciliatory note than that indicated by the language of the White House by saying that the Government would prefer to seek a fresh UN Security Council resolution before any military strikes. He also promised that only "something significant" would lead to Iraq being deemed guilty of a "material breach" of the UN resolution.
(SNIP)
Paul Keetch, Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, said he was asked by a constituent why the Government had found time for nine votes on hunting but could not give MPs a vote on military action.
2//The News International Wednesday November 27, 2002-- Ramadan
21, 1423 A.H.
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/
MMA GOVT TO BLOCK AL-AQEDA HUNT IN TRIBAL AREA: DURRANI
PESHAWAR: The MMA, leading the NWFP's new parliament, vowed on Tuesday to block the manhunt for al-Qaeda in their tribal-dominated region, where the US military believe hundreds of the extremists are hiding.
"We have opposed the government's pro-US policies, particularly operations aided by (the US) and we shall maintain our opposition," Akram Durrani, the likely chief minister of NWFP, told AFP in an interview.
"We will neither allow our land to be used for terrorist activities, nor will we allow any operation particularly involving the FBI agents. People who voted for the MMA voted against such actions," he said, a day after the NWFP parliament took oath.
Durrani, from the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and controls 68 seats in the 124-seat house, is the only candidate so far for the chief minister. The position would be chosen by the provincial assembly on Friday.
The MMA's clerics vowed to throw US troops off Pakistani airbases, where they have been based for operations in Afghanistan, and to expel US Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) experts who have been tipping off and guiding Pakistani troops in flushing out al-Qaeda fighters.
Durrani's latest comments indicate a return to their campaign pledges, now the MMA has settled for an opposition role at the federal level. He said that the Islamic parties would also prevent foreigners from using Pakistan as their base and stop "foreign agencies" from operating in the country. "If they (foreigners) want to carry out activities, they should go to their respective countries," Durrani said.
(MORE)
3//TurkishPress.com Tuesday, November 26, 2002
http://www.turkishpress.com/turkishpress/news.asp?ID=7927
ZORLU:
OPERATION AGAINST IRAQ INCREASES TERROR IN AFGHANISTAN
Anadolu Agency
NEW YORK - International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Commander Hilmi Akin Zorlu said on Tuesday that an operation against Iraq will increase terrorist actions in Afghanistan.
Zorlu who addressed Turkish reporters in New York where he will hold contacts said that only 850 of 4800 people in the personnel provide order and the rest work in logistics and headquarters, adding that there are 20 million mines in Afghanistan and they destroyed 107 thousand rockets, missiles and such weapons since they started their mission.
Noting that they are planning to train hundreds of Afghan officers in Turkey for Afghan officers, Zorlu said that a cooperation agreement for this is about to be signed.
Zorlu also said that a radio called ''Turkiyem'' broadcasts in Turkish, Pashto and Dari in Afghanistan.
As he was mentioning from consequences of a possible operation against Iraq, Zorlu said, ''a possible operation against Iraq increases terrorist actions in Afghanistan.''
(SNIP)
Noting that the United States promised an aid worth of 228 million dollars while Turkey was taking over the command of ISAF, Zorlu said that the aid will be provided as military equipment, adding that the contacts continue about this issue.
(SNIP)
The command of ISAF will be handed over to Germany and the Netherlands
on December 20.
4//Arab News 26 November 2002 / 22 Ramadhan 1423
http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=20666
AN
AMERICAN LESSON
Omaima Al-Jalahma/Al-Watan
Arab News From the Local Press 27 November 2002
It seems that the number of people eager to express their love for us is on the increase these days. The latest on the list is Elizabeth, daughter of US Vice President Dick Cheney. She is leading a State Department-sponsored campaign to bring information to Arab and Muslim women concerning democracy and freedom from an American perspective.
Arab and Muslim women are lucky to have someone showing all this concern for them. The US government has allocated $52 million for the campaign and women from 14 countries were carefully selected to take part. The women are from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Palestine, Oman, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Tunisia.
A simple calculation will show that each woman will cost the American treasury more than $1 million. The figures pale when compared to the objective. The United States, this virtuous state, has now decided to play the role of reformer for the Arab and Muslim nation, even if it is done by coercion.
(SNIP)
The subject was carefully prepared involving those at the highest level of government. It has nothing to do with teaching advanced technology, medicine or any of the sciences that we have been rightly blamed for not concentrating on. It is all about the US view of democracy and freedom, a subject - at least in US official eyes - much more important than anything else. They see it as far more important than our religion, language, customs and traditions.
American officials say the campaign aims at briefing Arab women on the role of American women in the electoral process, whether involved in organizing and running election campaigns or as candidates.
To Elizabeth Cheney and others in the State Department, I say please show some objectivity and fairness and allow Arab women to see the other face of American women. Allow the Arab women to come face to face with the sense of fear and insecurity many American women experience, the looming threats and thefts, rapes, murders, the increase in abortions - especially among minors - the spread of HIV, the rising numbers of suicide among women and all other social ills.
I wish the American women would frankly tell our Arab women that their freedom has failed to give them security and stability and that American democracy has up to now failed to get equal pay for women doing the same job as men, even if the women have the same qualifications.
This is not the case for Arab women. To those responsible for cultural and social organizations in the Arab world I ask this question: When will we see a similar effort to correct our distorted image and introduce the true picture to not only the US but also the entire world?
5//The Moscow Times Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2002. Page 11
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2002/11/27/008.html
OPINION:
WHITHER THE U.S.-RUSSIAN PARTNERSHIP?
By Angela Stent
Angela Stent, director of Georgetown University's Center for Eurasian,
Russian and East European Studies, served in the U.S. State Department's
office of policy planning from 1999 to 2001.
Last week's summit between Presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin outside St. Petersburg followed what has now become a familiar pattern in the post-Sept. 11 U.S.-Russian partnership: warm personal relations between the two presidents; strong agreement on the need to combat the dangers of terrorism arising from Islamic fundamentalism; commitment to expand economic relations; and acknowledgement of disagreements over a range of issues, including NATO enlargement and the future course of action in Iraq. Friday's summit, however, also included strong, perhaps unexpected, words from Putin about the role of two U.S. allies, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, in aiding and abetting terrorism -- remarks which elicited no public American response.
Bush's visit to Petersburg highlights Russia's continuing importance for the United States in its anti-terrorist campaign. Russia has, so far, been more important than NATO in assisting the U.S. war in Afghanistan. Despite the feel good rhetoric of last week's Prague NATO summit, two major problems were evident: Unless NATO reforms and enhances its military capabilities, its future role with 26 members of widely divergent military strengths is in doubt.
Moreover, most European governments question the need for regime change in Iraq. Then there are the broader disagreements between the "old" NATO members (as opposed to the prospective members who are currently more pro-American) and Washington over a range of political and economic issues. Thus, the conventional wisdom that the transatlantic alliance is qualitatively different from the much more tentative U.S.-Russian relationship is no longer self-evident. Today, Russia shares with America a more traditional view of the role of military force than Europeans, who question the wisdom of using military means to combat terrorism, as opposed to dealing with its root causes. Russia has also adjusted better than the European Union to the role of a preponderant America, perhaps because its international ambitions are more modest than those of an EU seeking a more assertive foreign policy profile.
So far, the new U.S.-Russian partnership is based on a limited bargain: In return for Russia's support for the U.S. anti-terrorist campaign, which includes robust intelligence-sharing and U.S. military access to Central Asian bases, the United States has offered economic incentives, including energy cooperation and accelerated WTO entry, and has remained virtually silent about Russia's domestic situation, including the war in Chechnya.
This partnership, however, needs fresh impetus. Without a more forward-looking agenda, it could stagnate or deteriorate, if the United States and Russia continue to disagree over issues involving Russia's ties to Iraq, Iran and North Korea. U.S.-Russian ties must have a stronger foundation than a common enemy. There are several areas where Russia and the United States have compelling reasons to cooperate, areas that could provide a firmer basis for a partnership based on mutual interest.
(MORE)
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©
2002, Gloria R. Lalumia
insight@zianet.com
Updated listings of Radio for Progressives on the internet at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
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