Friday, December 28, 2007
Senator Specter Responds to Death of Benazir Bhutto
Islamabad, Pakistan - Today, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter responded to the death of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Senator Specter is traveling in Pakistan and was scheduled to meet with Bhutto the night of her assasination. He spoke via phone with MSNBC.
Kennedy and Specter In Pakistan On the Night of Bhutto's Death
I'm not sure whether it's ironic or coincidental and one certainly would not want to misoverspeculate about whether it may be contrived or meant to appear coincidental to influence public perception regarding the war, but the very person who investigated the Kennedy assassination and became famous for it, Arlen Specter(R-PA) is with Patrick Kennedy ( D-RI ), both of whom were on their way to have dinner with Benazir Bhutto at her home the night she was killed in Pakistan ?
Pakistan: Fractured skull killed Bhutto
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Benazir Bhutto died from a fractured skull caused by hitting her head on part of her car's sunroof as a bomb ripped through a crowd of her supporters, a spokesman for Pakistan's Interior Ministry said Friday.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
The Benazir Bhutto I knew
Her death need not be the beginning of Pakistan's end.
By Mansoor Ijaz
from the December 28, 2007 edition
Benazir Bhutto was a beautiful and idealistic woman when she came to Pakistan's rescue in 1988. Growing up as the scion of one of its most powerful political families imposed enormous responsibilities on her and created perhaps unrealistic expectations of what she could deliver to save her chaotic country from disintegration. Her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, reportedly encouraged her as an up-and-coming politician to study the lives of history's great women leaders, from Joan of Arc to Indira Ghandi, so she could prepare to lead Pakistan.
By Mansoor Ijaz
from the December 28, 2007 edition
Benazir Bhutto was a beautiful and idealistic woman when she came to Pakistan's rescue in 1988. Growing up as the scion of one of its most powerful political families imposed enormous responsibilities on her and created perhaps unrealistic expectations of what she could deliver to save her chaotic country from disintegration. Her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, reportedly encouraged her as an up-and-coming politician to study the lives of history's great women leaders, from Joan of Arc to Indira Ghandi, so she could prepare to lead Pakistan.
Countries condemn Bhutto killing
ANDREW O. SELSKY, Associated Press Writer
Thu Dec 27, 4:35 PM ET
From Moscow to Washington to New Delhi and points in between, dismay and condemnation poured forth Thursday over the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, along with concern for the stability of the volatile region. World leaders lauded her bravery and commitment to democratic reform.
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to condemn the killing.
Thu Dec 27, 4:35 PM ET
From Moscow to Washington to New Delhi and points in between, dismay and condemnation poured forth Thursday over the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, along with concern for the stability of the volatile region. World leaders lauded her bravery and commitment to democratic reform.
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to condemn the killing.
Analysis: Bhutto death deals blow to US
By MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press Writer
19 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has dealt a severe blow to U.S. efforts to restore stability and democracy in a turbulent, nuclear-armed Islamic nation that has been a critical ally in the war on terror.
19 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has dealt a severe blow to U.S. efforts to restore stability and democracy in a turbulent, nuclear-armed Islamic nation that has been a critical ally in the war on terror.
Pakistan's Bhutto killed in attack
By SADAQAT JAN and ZARAR KHAN, Associated Press Writers
7 minutes ago
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan - Enraged crowds rioted across Pakistan and hopes for democracy hung by a thread after Benazir Bhutto was gunned down Thursday as she waved to supporters from the sunroof of her armored vehicle. The death of President Pervez Musharraf's most powerful opponent threw the nation into chaos just 12 days before elections, and threatened its already unsteady role as a key fighter against Islamic terror.
7 minutes ago
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan - Enraged crowds rioted across Pakistan and hopes for democracy hung by a thread after Benazir Bhutto was gunned down Thursday as she waved to supporters from the sunroof of her armored vehicle. The death of President Pervez Musharraf's most powerful opponent threw the nation into chaos just 12 days before elections, and threatened its already unsteady role as a key fighter against Islamic terror.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Putin, the Kremlin power struggle and the $40bn fortune
POSTED: Friday, December 21, 2007
FROM BLOG: NoisyRoom.net - NoisyRoom.net is a counterterrorism, anti-illegal immigration, conservative blog specializing in current events and commentary.
The following blog post is from an independent writer and is not connected with Reuters News. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by Reuters.com.
From the Guardian Unlimited:
Luke Harding in Moscow
An unprecedented battle is taking place inside the Kremlin in advance of Vladimir Putin’s departure from office, the Guardian has learned, with claims that the president presides over a secret multibillion-dollar fortune.
FROM BLOG: NoisyRoom.net - NoisyRoom.net is a counterterrorism, anti-illegal immigration, conservative blog specializing in current events and commentary.
The following blog post is from an independent writer and is not connected with Reuters News. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by Reuters.com.
From the Guardian Unlimited:
Luke Harding in Moscow
An unprecedented battle is taking place inside the Kremlin in advance of Vladimir Putin’s departure from office, the Guardian has learned, with claims that the president presides over a secret multibillion-dollar fortune.
Turkish planes bomb Kurds in N.Iraq
The Turkish military said its ground forces fired on the same PKK targets two hours after the aerial bombardment.
Senior military sources in southeast Turkey told Reuters at least 10 warplanes participated in the air offensive, targeting approximately five areas where the PKK are believed to take refuge during the winter months.
Senior military sources in southeast Turkey told Reuters at least 10 warplanes participated in the air offensive, targeting approximately five areas where the PKK are believed to take refuge during the winter months.
Friday, December 21, 2007
The Hard Choices
And isn't it sad that just as peace, permitted by a surge in US troop levels, is breaking out, the Democrats are selfishly calling for massive withdrawals? The Neo-Con mistakes of not enough troops initially, being compounded by the Neo-liberals' reluctance to make the hard choices.
Krishna, Chennai, India
In response to Krishna's comment above, the " hard choices " to which you refer, with Kissinger, Laird and Macfarlane calling for U.S. policy to " stay the course " would entail those that engender the greatest risk - choices regarding how to de-occupy Iraq.
What risk might be involved ? The risk of collapse into full-scale civil war in Iraq that could become a broader regional conflict. The obvious response to the surge, by definition is going to be a more potent, resilient insurgency. Is that the purpose of the surge - to foment a more potent insurgency that provides convenient pretext to " stay the course, " a convenient excuse to continue to occupy ?
Perhaps, or perhaps the occupation's underlying objective is Iran which can be attained by weakening the Kurds with Turkish forces and weakening al-Maliki, who has support throughout the region even though as a result of a Washington lobbying firm that represents Ayad Allawi, has lost his main political blocs in Iraq.
But certainly Maliki is a powerful argument against the theory of regional collapse as a function of U.S.-NATO de-occupation.
Krishna, Chennai, India
In response to Krishna's comment above, the " hard choices " to which you refer, with Kissinger, Laird and Macfarlane calling for U.S. policy to " stay the course " would entail those that engender the greatest risk - choices regarding how to de-occupy Iraq.
What risk might be involved ? The risk of collapse into full-scale civil war in Iraq that could become a broader regional conflict. The obvious response to the surge, by definition is going to be a more potent, resilient insurgency. Is that the purpose of the surge - to foment a more potent insurgency that provides convenient pretext to " stay the course, " a convenient excuse to continue to occupy ?
Perhaps, or perhaps the occupation's underlying objective is Iran which can be attained by weakening the Kurds with Turkish forces and weakening al-Maliki, who has support throughout the region even though as a result of a Washington lobbying firm that represents Ayad Allawi, has lost his main political blocs in Iraq.
But certainly Maliki is a powerful argument against the theory of regional collapse as a function of U.S.-NATO de-occupation.
Millions of us knew exactly what was going to happen
This is a good reminder of what arrogance and ignorance can do when combined in high places. But there is an even more tragic side to this. Andrew says "No-one ever thought most things were going to happen." There we have to agree to differ. Millions of us knew exactly what was going to happen - and to those of us who shouted, demonstrated, marched and tried in vain to make ourselves heard, the expression "hate to say I told you so" has never been so painful.
Joel Teague, Beaconsfield, Bucks
Joel Teague, Beaconsfield, Bucks
Russia's deep suspicion of the West
Rupert Wingfield Hayes reports on Russia's view of the outside world after its foreign minister accuses Britain of deliberately sabotaging relations with Moscow.
Iraqi Shiite cautions on armed groups
By HAMID AHMED, Associated Press Writer
BAGHDAD - The leader of the largest Shiite political party in Iraq told about 5,000 faithful who gathered Friday for Eid al-Adha prayers that U.S.-backed anti-al-Qaida armed groups — mostly comprised of Sunnis — should be on the side of government forces and not try to replace them.
Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, told worshippers gathered near his office in southwest Baghdad that the so-called "awakening" groups, many of whom once fought against U.S. forces but have since turned their guns on extremists, that the fighters must side with the government.
BAGHDAD - The leader of the largest Shiite political party in Iraq told about 5,000 faithful who gathered Friday for Eid al-Adha prayers that U.S.-backed anti-al-Qaida armed groups — mostly comprised of Sunnis — should be on the side of government forces and not try to replace them.
Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, head of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, told worshippers gathered near his office in southwest Baghdad that the so-called "awakening" groups, many of whom once fought against U.S. forces but have since turned their guns on extremists, that the fighters must side with the government.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Kissinger's Infamous Relationship With The Kurds
This, among Kissinger's numerous endeavors, was revealed during the Watergate investigations of 1976, in what became known as the Pike Report. The testimony said that Kissinger had armed and financed the Kurds to dissuade Iraq from "adventurism", such as coming to the aid of Syria. The report adds, "Our clients, who were encouraged to fight, were not told of this policy." The Kurds were never meant to win, only to weaken Iraq and materialize US interests in the Middle East. The Kurds - Barzani in particular - should know better and re-read the history of their people's friendship with the United States.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Sketchy Iraq Intelligence
Based on everything we've heard in the news media about Washington's apparent disenchantment with Nouri al-Maliki, and in as much as I am personally disillusioned by Time failing to name him Man of the Year in light of his having been able to hold a fragile, volatile Iraqi state in the midst of a civil war, together, with rapidly dwindling support, credit Time with alerting us to the fact that al-Qaeda-in-Iraq was yet another Washington myth, perhaps intended to perpetuate the unending Holy War that a former Time Man of the Year, Ayatollah Khomeini, once so seemingly desired.
Here's the sketchy intelligence:
In other words, after the Army Corps reports that a dam might be susceptible to failure, it suddenly becomes a target of al-Qaeda-In-Iraq, an organization that arguably, does not even exist and at a time when we know Washington is lobbying to oust Maliki ?
Why would al-Qaeda-in-Iraq attempt to destabilize parts of the Kurdish region at a time when the Turks are attacking parts of that region ? Is al-Qaeda supporting the Turks ?
Here's the sketchy intelligence:
Built in the 1980s on the Tigris River near Mosul, the dam made headlines in June after a report by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said potential erosion of its foundation could cause it to buckle under the water pressure, flooding Mosul and parts of Baghdad, 225 miles to the south.
"We have some intelligence that says it was part of a bigger plot. There is some intelligence that they may have wanted to cut off that side of the river to make safe havens," Hertling said. "There are some indications that they wanted to close that route because it is used by coalition forces."
In other words, after the Army Corps reports that a dam might be susceptible to failure, it suddenly becomes a target of al-Qaeda-In-Iraq, an organization that arguably, does not even exist and at a time when we know Washington is lobbying to oust Maliki ?
Hertling added: "I personally think it is an additional indicator that these people who are trying to disrupt the people of Iraq will do anything to screw up the people of Iraq."
Why would al-Qaeda-in-Iraq attempt to destabilize parts of the Kurdish region at a time when the Turks are attacking parts of that region ? Is al-Qaeda supporting the Turks ?
House approves $70 billion more for war
By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer
24 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Ending dual spending battles with President Bush, the Democratic-controlled Congress passed a $555 billion bill Wednesday that funds the Iraq war well into next year and government agencies through September.
24 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Ending dual spending battles with President Bush, the Democratic-controlled Congress passed a $555 billion bill Wednesday that funds the Iraq war well into next year and government agencies through September.
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