French Troops Stand Permanent Guard In Africa [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/ae/Qicoast-france-africa.RZRc_CSM.html French troops stand permanent guard in Africa Emmanuel Serot PARIS, Sept 22 (AFP) - France is on permanent guard in Africa, where it has stationed some 6,000 troops in five ex-colonies to intervene in crises, join multilateral peacekeeping forces, and ensure that defence pacts are adhered to. On Sunday, it sent in a contingent of soldiers to boost its presence in Ivory Coast to protect French nationals and other foreigners following a failed coup attempt by rebels, which has left 270 people dead. Six hundred men are already in Ivory Coast. Senegal and Chad each host about 1,000 soldiers each, with 600 troops in Gabon and 2,700 in Djibouti. "These troops have been deployed with the goal of preventing crises," the defence ministry says. Contrary to earlier practice during the post-colonial period, the French army today no longer provides African countries with military assistance but is ready to intervene at any moment. "These are professionals who have been trained in all kinds of latitudes -- in the tropical forests of Gabon where it's very humid and Djibouti which is very hot and dry," a colonel told AFP. In a crisis, these troops can be brought in as reinforcements much faster than if they were stationed in France. Their proximity also makes way for greater flexibility in terms of sending equipment and vehicles. "This pre-positioning of troops always allows us to make deployments according to the needs of our nationals," defence ministry spokesman Jean-Francois Bureau, told AFP on Sunday. He said French policy on Africa was based on a "regional approach" and was not confined to its former colonies, stressing that France followed a strictly hand-off policy as far as the internal affairs of a country went and would not intervene to prop up a head of state, or topple him. The French forces intervene now only to protect nationals during crises such as Ivory Coast's latest coup, when the army quashed an uprising in Abidjan on Thursday at the cost of 270 people killed and 300 wounded, according to government figures. The rebels were still holding two cities on Sunday -- Bouake, in the centre, where about 600 French nationals were among the foreigners trapped, and Korhogo, in the north, where some 80 French nationals live. The French army sent reinforcements to Abidjan early Sunday, drawing them from other bases in Africa. Some of the Transall aircraft used to fly them to Abidjan went on to wait on standby in nearby Senegal and Gabon, ready to return at a moment's notice. The main worry for French authorities in such situations is when French nationals get caught in cross-fire between rival forces. The French troops also join, on demand or whenever required, multilateral or pan-African forces under the aegis of the United Nations. Spokesman Bureau said France provided technical and military assistance to a Senegalese contingent which was part of a UN observation mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 1997, France signed a pact with Britain and the United States to coordinate action to maintain peace in Africa. They have together launched a training programme for troops from African countries. The first training programme took place in 1998, followed by "Gabon 2000" ande "Tanzanite" in Tanzania at the start of this year. __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Top UK General: "I am absolutely opposed to war" [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12221807&method=full&siteid=50143 The Mirror September 23, 2002 TOP GENERAL: WE WILL SUFFER 37,000 CASUALTIES By Tom Newton Dunn, Defence Correspondent A GULF War hero yesterday spoke out against a new attack on Iraq. Major General Patrick Cordingley, 57, who led the British 7 Armoured Brigade - The Desert Rats - in 1991, said: "I am absolutely opposed to war. "I feel very strongly that it is wrong. There is no justification for sending British troops to Iraq. The case for war has not yet been made by the politicians." It is estimated that around 15 per cent of invading troops would be wounded or killed in an assault on Baghdad - 37,000 soldiers in a total force of 250,000. The recently retired general said the dossier of evidence against Saddam would not prove the case for a war, adding: "I don't think they have much (evidence), frankly". Meanwhile, the leader of Bahrain yesterday branded US military action against Iraq as harmful for the whole region. Traditionally an American ally, Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Sulman said: "There is a strong intention to strike and a clear Arab and Muslim stance is required. Such an attack would harm the whole region." He added that the offer to readmit weapons inspectors "had removed any reasons to continue threats". __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
US-Russia Showdown In The Caucasus? [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://www.dailystar.com.lb/23_09_02/art17.asp The Daily Star (Lebanon) September 23, 2002 [A pro-Washington perspective, but an indication of how advanced the West's new Great Game in the 'Eurasian Balkans' [Zbigniew Brzezinski] has advanced.] Crisis in the Caspian: US-backed pipeline could intensify Russian threats to Georgia Washington unlikely to give Moscow freer hand, even in return for support against Baghdad Ed Blanche Special to The Daily Star -If Moscow makes good on those threats, the rapport it has built with the United States, the pipelines staunchest advocate, since Sept. 11, 2001, will be jeopardized. -[G]iven the differences between Washington and Moscow over the Bush administrations plans for regime change in Baghdad, Russias construction of a nuclear reactor in Iran and its involvement in Tehrans ballistic missile program, what happens in Georgia could prove to be fateful indeed for the future of the US-Russian rapprochement and Western efforts to find alternative sources of energy to lessen dependence on the Middle East. -Russian military commanders, angered at Putins post-Sept. 11 agreement to allow US forces into the former Soviet republics in Central Asia and the Caucasus as part of George W. Bushs war against Al-Qaeda and the Taleban, are urging deeper and heavier attacks into Georgian territory, citing Bushs policy of pre-emptive strikes against terrorist groups. The Russians are also concerned as US forces deployed in five Central Asian states following Sept. 11 are showing signs of digging in for a long stay, partly as they will be needed to help stabilize Afghanistan and to contribute to nation-building in those former Soviet republics Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan also happen to sit atop vast quantities of oil and natural gas. General Tommy Franks, head of the US Central Command responsible for Afghanistan, said last month that US forces would remain in Afghanistan for a long, long time. None of this will help ease the confrontation looming in the Caucasus. -US leaders see Shevardnadzes fate as vital in the strategic, oil-rich region because Georgia has been the most Western-oriented former Soviet republic other than the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. -For Western oil giants like BP (the key operator in Azerbaijan) and ChevronTexaco and ExxonMobil (majority stakeholders in Kazakhstans Tengiz field) the Caspian is one of the few regions in the world where foreign companies can own a piece of the action. British Petroleums mid-September laying of the first section of a $2.9 billion pipeline to carry Caspian Sea oil through Georgia to Turkeys Mediterranean coast, a project that will diminish Moscows influence in the energy-rich region, coincided with mounting Russian threats to take military action against an alleged Chechen rebel stronghold in Georgia. If Moscow makes good on those threats, the rapport it has built with the United States, the pipelines staunchest advocate, since Sept. 11, 2001, will be jeopardized. Sept. 11 marked a sea change in Moscows relations with the West, but at a price the US and Europe muted criticism of alleged Russian atrocities in its floundering, costly anti-terrorist war against Islamist Chechen separatists, soon to enter its fourth year. That Western silence may now end. And given the differences between Washington and Moscow over the Bush administrations plans for regime change in Baghdad, Russias construction of a nuclear reactor in Iran and its involvement in Tehrans ballistic missile program, what happens in Georgia could prove to be fateful indeed for the future of the US-Russian rapprochement and Western efforts to find alternative sources of energy to lessen dependence on the Middle East. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared in a blunt warning to the embattled administration of Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze on the anniversary of the suicide attacks on the US that if Tbilisi did not move against the Chechen rebels and international terrorists holed up in the Pankisi Gorge on the 80-kilometer border with Chechnya, Russia reserved the right to send its forces in to destroy the rebel stronghold. The Duma, lower house of Russias Parliament, backed Putin and said Moscow should cut off economic aid and electricity supplies to energy-starved Georgia for failing to destroy the Chechens in the gorge. On Sept. 12, Putin said in a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that UN Security Council Resolution 1368, approved following the suicide attacks on the US, gave Moscow the right to attack Chechen rebel bases in Georgia in self-defense. If the Georgian authorities do not undertake concrete actions aimed at destroying terrorists, and if militants continue their raids into Russia from Georgia, Russia will undertake appropriate measures to counter this ter
Lebanon's Speaker: Phony 'Terror War' Is Geostrategic Land Grab [WWW.STOPNATO.OR
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://www.dailystar.com.lb/23_09_02/art4.asp The Daily Star September 23, 2002 Berri claims US targeting Mideast oil Mohammed Zaatari Daily Star correspondent -Berri said that the US campaign has been aimed at gaining control of the oil fields from Kazakhstan in the north to the Gulf in the south. Speaker Nabih Berri has said that Americas war on terror following the Sept. 11 attacks is not meant to crush rebellious Islamic movements but is instead a pretext to control Middle Eastern oil. Berri said that the US campaign has been aimed at gaining control of the oil fields from Kazakhstan in the north to the Gulf in the south. Berris comments came Friday evening in Majdalyoun during a reception attended by more than 1,200 people, including Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Sidon MP Bahiya Hariri, first lady Andree Lahoud (representing President Emile Lahoud) and US Ambassador Vincent Battle. Berri, who was attending a celebration in his honor marking a decade of post-war parliamentary life, said the US was coercing the whole world into adopting American anti-terrorism and labeling as terrorist and evil anyone or any group voicing disagreement. Berri also called for countering the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, accusing the Jewish state of seeking to displace Gaza-based Palestinians to Libya and West Bank-based Palestinians to Jordan, where a substitute Palestinian homeland is to be set up. The speaker said that Lebanon was meant to be a place where unwanted Palestinians, included those (displaced in) 1948, would be thrown. On domestic matters, the speaker said the national debt was as serious as sectarianism, but he denied that the state was paralyzed. For his part, Hariri called for a new electoral law, one which would boost political representation for all of the groups that are in Parliament. We should try and rid parliamentary life of all flaws by learning from the experience of the past decade, he said. Hariri expressed his readiness to cooperate with all political forces in order to forge a new electoral law, he said. Battles invitation to the event prompted calls for him not being allowed into Sidon, and the ambassador arrived early for the event, amid a heavy security detail. Battle sat by himself for 20 minutes at his table before being joined by Beirut MP Atef Majdalani and West Bekaa MP Robert Ghanem. The US ambassador and Hizbullah MPs were seated at opposite ends of the reception __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Fw: Counter-Dossier to Blair's shit-sheet on Iraq [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- - Original Message - From: glparramatta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: : Misc.progressive.activism <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, September 23, 2002 4:32 AM Subject: Counter-Dossier to Blair's shit-sheet on Iraq > Our friends at Traprock Peace Centre have asked mw to inform you about > this document. > > Norm Dixon (http://www.greenleft.org.au) > > ** > > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE > SEPTEMBER 21, 2002 > > CONTACT: Traprock Peace Center, http://www.traprockpeace.org > Sunny Miller 413-773-7427 or Charlie Jenks 413-773-1633 > > Labour Party Counter-Dossier released > > September 21, 2002 > > The Labour Party members who oppose Tony Blair on the war have released > their ³counter-dossier,² written by Alan Simpson, MP, Chair of Labour > Against War and Dr. Glen Rangwala, lecturer in politics at Cambridge > University. We received a pre-release copy, which was changed to > address > the It was released this week and we have posted it at our website > http://www.traprockpeace.org. Please copy and distribute widely. > > The counter-dossier is a definitive statement against going to war with > Iraq. It was written as a formal statement of the Labour Party "rebels" > to > rebut Tony Blair's arguments for joining the US in this war. Tony Blair > is > going to release his dossier in support of going to war against Iraq at > 8 am > (London time) on Sept 24th. He is giving MP¹s precious little time to > consider it as debate starts that very day. The counter-dossier > provides > the foundation for those in the Labour Party who oppose the war. > > This is a great document of historical significance. It contains bold > truth > that has not been widely reported in the US media, such as the fact that > > the US and UK blocked condemnation of Iraq's known chemical weapons > attacks > at the UN Security Council. No resolution was passed during the war that > specifically criticised Iraq's use of chemical weapons, despite the > wishes > of the majority to condemn this use. > > This authoritative document needs to be widely distributed to members of > Congress and to the US media. > > Sunny Miller, Executive Director > Charlie Jenks, President of the Core Group > Traprock Peace Center > 103A Keets Road > Deerfield, MA 01342 > 413 773-7427 > http://www.traprockpeace.org > --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Ave NATO: Romanian Troops Join US Patrols In Afghanistan [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/22/international/europe/22ROMA.html?ex=1033768001&ei=1&en=acd1799e7a463172 New York Times September 22, 2002 Romanians Join American Patrols in Afghanistan By JAMES BROOKE -We want to demonstrate that Romania can be considered a security provider," said Brig. Gen. Ion Palsoiu, commander of the Second Brigade, who flew here in part to explain his country's purpose to a tiny band of reporters. "Romania has experience in international operations, such as Somalia, Angola, Albania, Kosovo, and now Afghanistan." -Romania's army is embarking on a five-year program to shift much of its equipment to NATO-standard equipment, General Palsoiu said. The C-130 that stood parked off the tarmac here today, was one of four surplus cargo planes that the United States gave to Romania in 1996 as part of an American military aid and training program that has recently averaged about $10 million a year. -"You can count the number of Romanian officers who have studied in the United States in the hundreds, if not in the thousands." ANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Sept. 16 Planted in the sand, a hand-painted sign on the airport base near here welcomes visitors to the desert home of the "Red Scorpions," 400 infantry soldiers from Romania. Romanians? They have come, they say, to patrol the perimeter, eat at American mess tents and generally share the heat and dust with 5,000 American troops. But, beyond this patch of desert, Romania has a bigger goal in mind. Two months from now, leaders of the 19 member states of NATO are to converge on Prague for the alliance's first summit meeting in the former Soviet bloc, and the first since the Sept. 11 attacks of last year helped rewrite America's security strategy. Romania rejected for NATO membership in the first expansion in 1999 that took in the Poles, Czechs and Hungarians aims to be chosen this time, and hopes that the presence of its troops here can help prove that it is ready to play its part in the changing world. "We want to demonstrate that Romania can be considered a security provider," said Brig. Gen. Ion Palsoiu, commander of the Second Brigade, who flew here in part to explain his country's purpose to a tiny band of reporters. "Romania has experience in international operations, such as Somalia, Angola, Albania, Kosovo, and now Afghanistan." The Romanians are engaged in the intense round of politicking leading up to the Nov. 21-22 Prague meeting. Invitations to join NATO seem certain to go out to Slovenia and the three Baltic nations of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Question marks hang over three other candidates: Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania. Vaclav Havel, the Czech president and the host of the November gathering, supports admitting all seven former communist nations. Last spring, at a NATO meeting in Bucharest, the United States deputy secretary of state, Richard L. Armitage, praised Romania and Bulgaria for helping in the Afghanistan campaign. But President Bush has yet to tip his hand. To warm up the United States, Romania has signed a bilateral accord with Washington to exempt Americans from the jurisdiction of the new International Criminal Court. On the ground here, the Romanians, who replaced a Canadian contingent in July, are reaping the rewards of a decade of military cooperation and training with the United States. "Of my men here, four officers and 24 noncommissioned officers have studied in the United States," said Maj. Nicolae Ciuca, commander of the Red Scorpion detachment. The Romanians often go out on joint patrols composed of a United States Army armored Humvee and three of Romania's Warsaw Pact-issue BTR armored personnel carriers. Romania's army is embarking on a five-year program to shift much of its equipment to NATO-standard equipment, General Palsoiu said. The C-130 that stood parked off the tarmac here today, was one of four surplus cargo planes that the United States gave to Romania in 1996 as part of an American military aid and training program that has recently averaged about $10 million a year. "You can count the number of Romanian officers who have studied in the United States in the hundreds, if not in the thousands," said Maj. Ira Queen of the United States Army, who flew here with the Romanian general. The chief of a three-member American military office in Romania's Defense Ministry, Major Queen said that Britain, Germany and Italy had similar military cooperation units with Romania. Asked about the historical weight of military ties with the Soviet Union, Major Ciuca noted that his country had stood aside when the rest of the Warsaw Pact answered the Soviet call to invade Czechoslovakia to crush the Prague Spring. "Our country did not send troops to Prague in 1968. After 1968, we did not send any more officers to the U.S.S.R. for training." As an indication of the changing time, Major Queen said, when his flight from Bucharest stoppe
Rumsfeld: Global NATO Strike Force, NATO Control Of Afghan Occupation [WWW.STOPN
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=10617 Stars And Stripes Sunday, September 22, 2002 Rumsfeld to urge NATO to create quick reaction combat force By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes -[H]ell urge them to create a quick reaction combat force to respond to worldwide conflicts -The official said Rumsfeld also plans to discuss how other NATO nations might take over the U.S. security force in Kabul, Afghanistan while lengthening the time in the country from six months to possibly 12 to 18 months. ARLINGTON, Va. When Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld travels Monday to Poland for the NATO defense ministers conference, hell urge them to create a quick reaction combat force to respond to worldwide conflicts, a senior defense official said Friday. The Pentagon envisions the force to be a light, at least brigade-sized force, capable of deploying in as little as a week, said the official on condition of anonymity. Rumsfeld will spend 2½ days in Warsaw. He plans to brief his counterparts about the plan on Tuesday, in addition to presenting an intelligence briefing on Iraq, the official said. Details of the rapid-response force have yet to be refined, and more importantly, NATO allies have yet to accept the idea. If they approve, it will be addressed again during the NATO summit in Prague in November. On the surface, the United States is proposing the force be flexible enough to take on a variety of missions from a small noncombat evacuation mission to serving as the initial entry force into a conflict area, the official said. But such a concept would not be ready for at least two years, and would not be a factor if the United States decides to launch a strike on Iraq in the near future, the official said. The notion is not new to the 19 nations that make up the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the official said. We dont see this in any way as a competitor to the [already established] rapid reaction force, but rather complimentary, the official said of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. ARRC was set up primarily for peacekeeping missions, and to move within 90 days with heavy-armor units. But one of the United States chief concern is that NATO has already fallen behind on warfighting equipment and technology. They dont spend enough of their nations resources on defense and they wont be adequately equipped with state-of-the-art capabilities to uphold such an agreement, the official said. They will have to build their capabilities to make this happen, he said. Rumsfeld also plans to talk about increasing the number of NATO members and streamlining NATOs command structure, which means moving away from the Cold War era and reducing staffers. The official said Rumsfeld also plans to discuss how other NATO nations might take over the U.S. security force in Kabul, Afghanistan while lengthening the time in the country from six months to possibly 12 to 18 months. At the moment, Turkey is the only nation committed to take over, the official said. __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Rumsfeld To Give NATO Orders For Iraq War [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1031119541721&p=1012571727166 Financial Times September 22, 2002 Rumsfeld to press reluctant Nato on new strategy By Judy Dempsey in Warsaw -A senior Nato diplomat said the exercise was set on Nato's southern flank in Turkey. The first sign of a possible threat was a thick toxic fog drifting towards the country from a hostile neighbour, an imaginary country that could have been Syria, Iran or Iraq. -That prompted Nato into calling for an "article 5" response, obliging member states to come to the collective defence of Turkey. Donald Rumsfeld, US defence secretary, will on Monday press Nato for support in possible operations against Iraq when the alliance's defence ministers discuss the issue for the first time during their two-day meeting in Warsaw. Diplomats say Mr Rumsfeld will have difficulty persuading the 19 Nato members of the new US doctrine of pre-emptive strikes, a main element of President George W. Bush's national security strategy presented to Congress last Friday. Some allies think pre-emptive strikes too dangerous or contrary to international law. This became clear eight months ago when Nato was forced to break off a confidential crisis management exercise because of disagreements over how to respond to a mock chemical attack. The US, Turkey and the Czech Republic supported pre-emptive strikes. Germany questioned their legal basis. Britain played for time. And in an unexpected scenario, France said Nato had to seek endorsement from the United Nations Security Council. The exercise, on computer, involved liaising between Nato and the member states. Planned months before September 11, it was designed to establish how the alliance would react to a possible biological or chemical attack on a member state. A senior Nato diplomat said the exercise was set on Nato's southern flank in Turkey. The first sign of a possible threat was a thick toxic fog drifting towards the country from a hostile neighbour, an imaginary country that could have been Syria, Iran or Iraq. Nato's weapons of mass destruction centre soon provided analysis and concluded the enemy had the capability to deliver biological and chemical weapons. That prompted Nato into calling for an "article 5" response, obliging member states to come to the collective defence of Turkey. "At that point, the exercise was stopped," said an ambassador. "There was a real fear it would pull Nato apart," he added. Another diplomat said the exercise was broken off because of fears it might be used as a precedent by Washington when Nato, in the real world, would have to respond to Washington's requests for launching any pre-emptive strike. __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Germany May Take Over NATO Afghan Military Occupation [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://frontierpost.com.pk/afghan.asp?id=1&date1=9/23/2002 The Frontier Post (Pakistan) September 23, 2002 Germany may take over security command -Germany has played a major role in the force already, providing nearly 1,300 troops out of a total contingent of about 5,000. -As another possibility, US officials have looked at creating some kind of joint leadership arrangement for the international force, teaming several smaller NATO countries such as the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark. -US officials expect that a larger role for Germany in Afghanistan would be conditioned on the active involvement of NATOs military structure, both to assist in military planning and to generate additional forces from NATO member and partnership countries. NATO support is viewed as particularly important in ensuring a longer-term commitment by the next head of the international force. WASHINGTON (NNI): Germany has emerged as the leading candidate to take command of the international security force in Afghanistan, a move that might also involve NATO, according to US and European officials.With Turkeys six-month commitment to head the International Security Assistance Force due to expire in December, the Bush administration has been scrambling to find a replacement. Germanys willingness to fill the gap would have particular significance as a step towards mending the deep rift in US-German relations that has opened since Chancellor Schroeder made opposition to a US attack on Iraq, a central factor in his campaign for re-election, reports the Washington Post. The German government has reserved a final decision on taking over lead responsibility for the international force until after national elections in Germany on Sunday. But German Defence Minister Peter Struck said he could imagine his country assuming command, and German authorities have affirmed their readiness in private talks with European officials and US. Germany has played a major role in the force already, providing nearly 1,300 troops out of a total contingent of about 5,000. In addition to performing guard duty and patrolling, the Germans have handled training of a new Afghan police force. As another possibility, US officials have looked at creating some kind of joint leadership arrangement for the international force, teaming several smaller NATO countries such as the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark. But the preference is for a single, larger European state to run the force, officials said. US officials expect that a larger role for Germany in Afghanistan would be conditioned on the active involvement of NATOs military structure, both to assist in military planning and to generate additional forces from NATO member and partnership countries. NATO support is viewed as particularly important in ensuring a longer-term commitment by the next head of the international force. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other administration officials have made clear their interest in seeing what has been a six-month commitment extended to 12 or 18 months to provide greater stability. Lingering difficulties in reining in warlords, bandits and renegade Taliban fighters have complicated rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan and have put pressure on the Bush administration to allow expansion of the international force beyond Kabul, where its operations are now confined. NATO has avoided a formal political commitment to involvement in Afghanistan, reflecting both an initial US desire to strike on its own against the Taliban regime and al Qaeda network and a NATO reluctance to get involved in operations out of its traditional area of European focus. __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Zyuganov: People's Unity - A Real Chance for Yugoslavia [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK
---
To the President of the Socialist Party of
Serbia,
long-time President of the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia,
comrade Slobodan Milosevic
Dear comrade
Milosevic,
Your numerous friends in Russia follow
carefully Your courageous struggle against illegal NATO "tribunal", and for the
defense of Serbia and Serbian people. We are deeply satisfied that despite many
years of efforts to brainwash world opinion, the West has suffered a complete
defeat in its attempt to prove its
vile allegations against Serbia and You personally of genocide against Kosovo
Albanians and of war crimes.
It is becoming increasingly
obvious that NATO and the terrorist organization formed by NATO special services
under the name of the "Kosovo Liberation Army" are in fact responsible for the
genocide and war crimes in Kosovo.
However, the persons responsible
for murder and abduction of thousands of people, the persons responsible for the
huge ethnic cleansing in Kosovo are not being called before the justice. The
Hague "tribunal" has become a criminal body by itself, protecting NATO and
terrorist "KLA" war criminals from legal sanctions.
Bearing in mind the complete and
shameful fiasco of the charges against You concerning the events in Kosovo, we
demand Your immediate release and insist on terminating the travesty of the NATO
"tribunal" for Yugoslavia, discrediting the very notion of international
judiciary.
I would like to inform
You, as well, on very sound reaction in Russia to Your appeal for unity of all
the patriotic forces of Serbia in struggle against the pro-western clique that,
with NATO support, took control over Yugoslavia. The Russian communists are,
based on their own experience,
convinced of the rightness of such an approach. We are convinced that only the
broadest alliance of the patriotic forces, regardless of their ideological
positions, will secure the true independence of Yugoslavia and benefit of its
talented people.
With sincere
respect,
President of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation
President of the People's Patriotic Alliance
of Russia
Gennady
Zyuganov
To join or help this struggle, visit:http://www.sps.org.yu/ (official SPS
website)http://www.belgrade-forum.org/ (forum
for the world of equals)http://www.icdsm.org/ (the international
committee to defend Slobodan Milosevic)http://www.jutarnje.co.yu/ ('morning news'
the only Serbian newspaper advocating liberation)
---
ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST
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==^
NATO Troop Rotation: Turks Leave Kabul For Iraq War, Germans Take Over [WWW.STOP
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://frontierpost.com.pk/afghan.asp?id=6&date1=9/23/2002 The Frontier Post September 23, 2002 Turkey to end its Afghan stint: Turkish FM -The NATO diplomats said Germany had indicated a willingness to discuss taking over control of the force, possibly in a joint command with the Netherlands. ISTANBUL (NNI): Turkey will not extend its term as commander of the security force in Afghanistan, the Turkish foreign minister said in Istanbul. NATO diplomats however, said that Germany had expressed an interest in possibly taking over a joint command of the force in December.An extension of the mandate is out of the question, the Turkish minister, Sukru Sina Gurel, said on his return to Istanbul from the United Nations General Assembly meeting, reports New York Times. The United States had not expected Turkey to extend its role commanding the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan when its six-month term expires on Dec. Troops from Germany, Britain, France and some other nations contribute to the force patrolling Kabul, the Afghan capital. The NATO diplomats said Germany had indicated a willingness to discuss taking over control of the force, possibly in a joint command with the Netherlands. Earlier, this week, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld suggested that the command of the security force in Kabul should be for longer than a six-month term. A new State Department report on Afghanistan raised questions this week about expanding the international force beyond Kabul, suggesting that it would be mainly up to the Afghan government to secure the areas beyond the capital. The establishment of a new national Afghan Army has proceeded slowly. The Pentagon has said the new army, which is being trained by American, British and French troops, will not be fully ready until the middle of 2004. __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Blueprint For Mass NATO Global Strike Force [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://www.afghandaily.com/p/e9/0d3268535427.html?id=f112ea Afghan Daily Worldnews.com U.S. Wants to Reshape NATO Missions The Associated Press, Sun 22 Sep 2002 -The Bush administration is looking for NATO agreement to reshape the alliance's military operations to allow rapid deployment to far-flung locations. -A U.S. proposal to set up such a force, to project alliance power outside NATO's borders on as little as a week's notice, will be a major order of business for Rumsfeld at a NATO defense ministers' meeting starting Tuesday in Warsaw, Poland. -Jerzy Szmajdzinski, Poland's defense minister, said the U.S. proposal would include ground troops, AWACS radar planes and shared allied intelligence. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it also could include naval forces and chemical-biological defenses. The official said the force would have a core of 20,000 U.S., Canadian and European combat and support troops, coming from all 19 alliance members for six-month tours of duty. WASHINGTON (AP) The Bush administration is looking for NATO agreement to reshape the alliance's military operations to allow rapid deployment to far-flung locations. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, who first raised the idea at a NATO gathering in June, said Saturday that the resulting streamlined military organization will be along lines the administration has worked to create with the U.S. forces. A U.S. proposal to set up such a force, to project alliance power outside NATO's borders on as little as a week's notice, will be a major order of business for Rumsfeld at a NATO defense ministers' meeting starting Tuesday in Warsaw, Poland. The administration brought up the idea of such a force in June at a ministers' meeting in Brussels, Belgium. Rumsfeld at the time recommended a review of NATO's command structure to give its forces the speed and agility necessary for an offensive force. That would represent a shift from the anti-Soviet defensive bulwark underpinning the alliance's creation early in the Cold War. National Security Council spokesman Sean McCormack said Saturday that Rumsfeld is laying groundwork for President Bush to discuss go to the heads of government for disposition. ``Strengthening NATO's military capability to handle 21st century threats is a major piece of President Bush's agenda for the November summit in Prague,'' McCormack said. ``We are working with our allies on a number of proposals aimed at achieving this objective, and Secretary Rumsfeld will discuss these proposals when he meets next week in Warsaw with his counterparts.'' Rumsfeld told CNN that the proposal ``is really no different than the kind of thing we've been doing here in the United States.'' He spoke of developing ``a quick-reaction force that would be able to respond to a problem in a matter of days, rather than weeks or months,'' thus offering ``the kind of agility to deal with the types of problems that exist today.'' Jerzy Szmajdzinski, Poland's defense minister, said the U.S. proposal would include ground troops, AWACS radar planes and shared allied intelligence. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it also could include naval forces and chemical-biological defenses. The official said the force would have a core of 20,000 U.S., Canadian and European combat and support troops, coming from all 19 alliance members for six-month tours of duty. It would be separate from a European-only force of 60,000, which is to become operational next year and will be used mainly for peacekeeping operations. Previous post-Cold War missions outside NATO's borders, such as those in the former Yugoslavia, have entailed airstrikes but little ground combat, focusing largely on peacekeeping. Also coming up at the Warsaw meeting will be the question of who will replace Turkey as leader of the international peacekeeping force in Kabul, Afghanistan, when the Turks' commitment expires in December. Rumsfeld wants another European country, probably Germany. A German government spokesman said last week that German and Dutch experts have been considering leadership arrangements for the 19-nation, 5,000-soldier force. Germany previously has resisted appeals by the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai to take over the force, on the ground that its forces already are stretched thin by peacekeeping in the Balkans. __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
NATO-Russia Council Spars Over Baltic States [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2002/09/23/016.html The Moscow Times September 29, 2002 NATO-Russia Council Spars Over Baltic States By John Chalmers -Signed in the dying days of the Cold War, the CFE limits the number of battle tanks, heavy artillery, combat aircraft and attack helicopters deployed and stored between the Atlantic Ocean and the Urals Mountains. The Baltic states have not signed up to the CFE and so are not subject to legal restrictions on forces deployed in their territory -- forces that could theoretically belong to NATO once they become members of the alliance. Reuters BRUSSELS, Belgium -- NATO and Russia sparred Friday over the defense alliance's plans for enlargement, with Moscow insisting that the Baltic states commit to the landmark treaty limiting conventional forces in Europe before joining up. "There was an elaborate presentation of views," said one NATO official after a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, which was set up in May to enhance cooperation between the former foes. "There are some points of principles involved: Russia is free to raise its point, but enlargement is our business," said the official, who asked not to be named. "I think they are raising this with greater energy." President Vladimir Putin has softened Moscow's criticism of NATO plans to expand eastward as part of his broad pro-Western policy. But there are still misgivings in Moscow about NATO taking in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The Baltic states are among seven countries that are expected to be invited to join NATO when the 19 alliance leaders meet in Prague in November. The NATO official said Russia appeared to be trying to stall the enlargement process by raising the question of the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty. Signed in the dying days of the Cold War, the CFE limits the number of battle tanks, heavy artillery, combat aircraft and attack helicopters deployed and stored between the Atlantic Ocean and the Urals Mountains. The Baltic states have not signed up to the CFE and so are not subject to legal restrictions on forces deployed in their territory -- forces that could theoretically belong to NATO once they become members of the alliance. Latvia recently shrugged off fears expressed by a senior Russian military official that it could become a NATO outpost for nuclear weapons or army bases after it joins the alliance. Part of the problem is that new accessions to the CFE can only take place once all signatories have ratified amendments adopted in 1999, and so far, only two countries have done so. Diplomats say Russia may push for the three Baltic states to commit themselves to joining the treaty at the same time as they join NATO, probably in early 2004. The NATO official said that there was "no quarrel" at Friday's council meeting, but the alliance put its view strongly that there should be no linkage between enlargement and CFE. "CFE is CFE and enlargement is enlargement," he said. "They feel strongly about it and we feel strongly about it." The wrangling overshadowed what officials said were more encouraging signs of growing trust and cooperation between the allies and Russia. The two sides agreed Friday on the political aspects of possible joint peacekeeping operations in the future. They are also due to hold a civil emergency exercise in Russia this month to test their response to a terrorist attack on a chemical production facility. __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Fwd: Protest against treatment of Roma by the Romanian media [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.U
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- In a message dated 9/20/02 9:22:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Subj:[Support_Roma] Protest against treatment of Roma by the Romanian media Date:9/20/02 9:22:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time From:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent from the Internet ORIGINAL SENDER: Valeriu Nicolae <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Dear colleagues, In Romania most people ( and therefore media ) are concerned with the image of their country abroad ( that means mainly countries which have something to say on the international scene as Romania tries to join the Eu and NATO ). That's why I think is very important to get as many people as possible to sign the protest. It is good to let romanians know that there are a large and united ( when it comes to condemn racism ) comunity of Roma and Roma activists ready to react . The link for the protest is: http://valeriu.shawbiz.ca/RPN.htm Please, let everybody you think is interested in signing the protest know. Many thanks Valeriu Nicolae --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^ --- Begin Message --- ORIGINAL SENDER: Valeriu Nicolae <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Dear colleagues, In Romania most people ( and therefore media ) are concerned with the image of their country abroad ( that means mainly countries which have something to say on the international scene as Romania tries to join the Eu and NATO ). That's why I think is very important to get as many people as possible to sign the protest. It is good to let romanians know that there are a large and united ( when it comes to condemn racism ) comunity of Roma and Roma activists ready to react . The link for the protest is: http://valeriu.shawbiz.ca/RPN.htm Please, let everybody you think is interested in signing the protest know. Many thanks Valeriu Nicolae Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. --- End Message ---
France Intervenes in Ivory Coast [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- [It appears that French troops are intervening in some capacity in the Ivory Coast. From the BBC report, it is possible that the French are intervening to prop-up the rebellion against Gbago's elected government who has fostered relations with Charles Taylor's Liberia. I'm not an expert on Ivorian politics, so I could be wrong, but we should perhaps look into the causes of this intervention? Btw, you will note that the French - in classical colonial style - are intervening also to "save" missionaries!!!] Monday, 23 September, 2002, 08:42 GMT 09:42 UK French troops in Ivorian capital Many residents' houses have been destroyed French troops have reached the Ivory Coast's capital, Yamoussoukro, as they seek to protect French and other foreign nationals caught up in a coup attempt which began on Thursday. The convoy of dozens of vehicles left the main Ivorian city of Abidjan late on Sunday, hours after France had flown up to 200 reinforcements, drawn from its other bases in West Africa. France describes the move as a "precautionary measure", and it is thought the troops will set up a forward base to be able to stage evacuations, if necessary, from nearby Bouake, Ivory Coast's second city, which on Monday morning still remained in rebel hands. There are growing concerns for about 200 children - about 150 of whom are sons and daughters of US Baptist missionaries - trapped in the basement of a boarding school in Bouake - a city of some 500,000 people. The national football teams of Senegal, Sierra Leone and Gambia are also trapped in Bouake. The hotel they are holed up in has no water supplies and there is little food left. Ivorian officials say 270 people have been killed and 300 wounded in insurgency so far. The rebels in Bouake and in the northern city of Korhogo appear to have ignored government demands for them to surrender in return for an offer of talks. Abidjan is now quiet, but in Bouake rebel soldiers said on Sunday that they had beaten off a heavy attack by loyalist troops. If you are in the Ivory Coast, click here to e-mail us your experience No intervention Some 20,000 French nationals are thought to live in the former French colony. Ups and downs Before 1999 - Relative calm and stability 1999 - Coup; General Guei takes power 2000 - Guei flees after rigging elections; Gbagbo wins controversial elections 2001 - coup attempt fails 2002 Troops mutiny, Guei killed France has agreements with the Ivory Coast to help restore order if necessary. But the BBC's West Africa correspondent, Paul Welsh, says for now it seems unlikely that they will become directly involved. In Abidjan, a spokesman for the main opposition leader, Alassane Ouattara, said Mr Ouattara's house had been destroyed by government soldiers, but that Mr Ouattara was safe inside the French embassy. French army spokesman Christian Baptiste said: "This violent crisis is an internal affair, and the concern of our political authorities is that our citizens as well as those of the international community don't pay the price." But our correspondent says the reinforcement of the French garrison is also designed to send a message to the rebels that it is time to negotiate. Olive branch Following a national address by President Laurent Gbagbo which hinted that the rebels had been aided by a foreign power, hundreds of foreigners' homes in the Abidjan were burned down and thousands of people packed up and took to the road in search of safety. Defence Minister Moise Lida Kouassi told the BBC that the army's only aim was to regain control of territory from rebels. Prime Minister Pascal Affi Nguessan offered an olive branch to rebels in a televised address on Saturday evening. President Gbagbo accused foreign nations of helping the rebels Despite earlier threats of "no negotiations" from the president, Mr Nguessan said the government was prepared to examine the grievances of the rebels if they laid down their arms and surrendered the areas they held. Thursday's uprising began with co-ordinated attacks on military installations, government sites, and cabinet ministers' houses in Abidjan and other cities and towns. The man the government has blamed for the uprising - General Robert Guei - who seized power in a 1999 coup - was killed. Foreign news stations, including the BBC, have been taken off the air in Ivory Coast. --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Fw: US HRes 473 re Iraq/UN [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- Sent: Monday, September 23, 2002 6:07 PM Subject: US HRes 473 re Iraq/UN > Hey, -> > > - > Following is the text of the resolution submitted yesterday by > California > Congresswoman Barbara Lee, with 26 co-sponsors > (see list below) to resolve the issues concerning Iraq through the UN by > peaceful means. If your representative isn't on the list, urge him/her > to > sign on. A copy of this is on http://cebo.org/actions.html > > ** > > Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the importance of the > United States working through the United Nations to assure Iraq's > compliance > with United Nations Security Council... (Introduced in House) > > HCON 473 IH > 107th CONGRESS > 2d Session H. CON. RES. 473 > > Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the importance of the > United States working through the United Nations to assure Iraq's > compliance > with United Nations Security Council resolutions and advance peace and > security in the Persian Gulf region. > > IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES > SEPTEMBER 19, 2002 > > Ms. LEE (for herself, Mrs. CLAYTON, Ms. RIVERS, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. JACKSON > of > Illinois, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. KUCINICH, Ms. MCKINNEY, Mr. OWENS, Ms. > KILPATRICK, Ms. WATSON of California, Mr. RUSH, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. > HILLIARD, Mr. CLAY, Mr. STARK, Mr. FARR of California, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. > BALDWIN, Mr. FILNER, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, > Ms. > BROWN of Florida, Mr. SERRANO, Ms. SOLIS, and Mr. CONYERS) submitted the > following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on > International Relations > > > CONCURRENT RESOLUTION > > Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the importance of the > United States working through the United Nations to assure Iraq's > compliance > with United Nations Security Council resolutions and advance peace and > security in the Persian Gulf region. > > Whereas on April 6, 1991, during the Persian Gulf War, Iraq accepted the > provisions of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 (April 3, > 1991) > bringing a formal cease-fire into effect; > > Whereas, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 687, Iraq > unconditionally accepted the destruction, removal, or rendering harmless > of > `all chemical and biological weapons and all stocks of agents and all > related subsystems and components and all research, development, support > and > manufacturing facilities related thereto', and `all ballistic missiles > with > a range greater than one hundred and fifty kilometers, and related major > parts and repair and production facilities'; > > Whereas, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 687, Iraq > unconditionally agreed not to acquire or develop any nuclear weapons, > nuclear-weapons-usable material, nuclear-related subsystems or > components, > or nuclear-related research, development, support, or manufacturing > facilities; > > Whereas Security Council Resolution 687 calls for the creation of a > United > Nations special commission to `carry out immediate on-site inspection of > Iraq's biological, chemical, and missile capabilities' and to assist and > cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency in carrying out > the > `destruction, removal or rendering harmless' of all nuclear-related > items > and in developing a plan for the ongoing monitoring and verification of > Iraq's compliance; > > Whereas United Nations weapons inspectors (UNSCOM) between > 1991 and 1998 successfully uncovered and destroyed large stockpiles of > chemical and biological weapons and production facilities, nuclear > weapons > research and development facilities, and Scud missiles, despite the fact > that the Government of Iraq sought to obstruct their work in numerous > ways; > > Whereas in 1998, UNSCOM weapons inspectors were withdrawn from Iraq and > have > not returned since; > > Whereas Iraq is not in compliance with United Nations Security Council > Resolution 687, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1154, and > additional United Nations resolutions on inspections, and this > noncompliance > violates international law and Iraq's ceasefire obligations and > potentially > endangers United States and regional security interests; > > Whereas the true extent of Iraq's continued development of weapons of > mass > destruction and the threat posed by such development to the United > States > and allies in the region are unknown and cannot be known without > inspections; > > Whereas the United Nations was established for the purpose of preventing > war > and resolving disputes between nations through peaceful means, including > `by > negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial > settlement, resort to regional arrangements, or othe
Roma And Romania [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- Thanks for the information, Kole. As the NATOized elite in Bucharest send the second largest military contingent to conquer and occupy the Afghan people - and this is no aspersion on the Romanian people, one of Europe's most victimized in the *New* Order and who, judging by dozens of exiles I've met here in Chicago have a visceral resentment toward their country becoming a NATO colony and outpost - and as the quislings lick their chops over forcibly absorbing the Republic of Moldova (invariably referred to by the government and government, which is to say, Brussels controlled media by the outdated name Bessarabia, harking back to the glory days of the Iron Guard Axis alliance), all the people of Romania, Roma and non-Roma, continue to suffer. A few wake-up calls. The long-time NATO booster - in fact singlemindedly so - and Nazi-installed monarch former King Michael (Hohenzollern) has returned to Romania to stir up World War II era revanchist passions - again, Moldova - even as NATO mainstay Hungary is eyeing the reconquest of Transylvania from Romania. There's precious little honor among NATO cutthroats. Brussels promises everything to everyone and the locals pay in blood. Regarding the Roma - arguably Europe's longest victimized people - their virtual genocide in Kosovo and the former Western Bosnian Republic goes unmentioned by the modern London and New York human rights missionaries; but they're disingenously dragged into yesterday's Slovakian election to attack NATO's bete noir Vladimir Meciar - who won the election but won't be permitted by the US's Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns to form the next government. Reputedly, Meciar didn't meet NATO's pristine democratic standards regarding the Roma poeple in Slovakia, inter alia. The so-called Kosovo Protection Corps does. And, oh yes, Meciar was also accused of 'consorting with Slobodan Milosevic,' the greatest protector of Roma rights in Europe. One is required to get into the delusional construct of the NATO mindset to make sense of any of this. Until, that is, humanity unites to disband NATO and try its functionaries and affiliated defence ministers for war crimes and crimes against humanity. __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Morocco Vs Spain: NATO Brings Peace To The Mediterranean [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://sg.news.yahoo.com/020923/1/331x5.html Agence France-Presse Monday September 23, 9:49 PM Rabat uses "minor incident" to scuttle talks: Madrid [US and French military client state Morocco, invader and occupier of Western Sahara (thanks currently to James Baker and Kofi Annan) and linchpin of NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue - which, moreover, recently saved NATO and the civilized world from al-Qeda - seems, quite in keeping with the times, to have territorial claims on NATO junior flunky Spain. Perhaps the Spanish people, NATOized through no choice and no fault of their own, are expected to draw some minor solace from the fact that German President Rau laid a wreath at the collective gravesite of Nazi Wehrmacht troops - and an estimated 1,500 Franco Falangist *volunteers* - outside of St.Petersburg/Leningrad, where the largest civilian toll of any siege in human history was exacted at the hands of those so honored.] Spain accused Morocco of using a "minor incident" to scuttle talks aimed at rebuilding trust after a bitter territorial dispute that capped a year of deteriorating relations. Defense Minister Federico Trillo said in the central city of Leon that a Spanish helicopter had merely overflown a disputed islet on Sunday, denying a charge that the aircraft had landed there. He said a "minor incident (was) provoked by the Moroccans as a pretext to suspend the visit to Madrid" by Moroccan Foreign Minister Mohamed Benaissa for the scheduled talks with his Spanish counterpart Ana Palacio. The Moroccan government had not reacted by 2:30 pm (1230 GMT) to repeated Spanish denials on Monday. The dispute over the islet off the Moroccan coast, known as Perejil in Spain and Leila in Morocco, was ostensibly settled by a July 22 accord. The row exacerbated relations already strained over fishing, oil exploration off the Canary Islands, drug and people trafficking and Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony annexed by Morocco in 1975. Trillo told a press conference that Rabat had had a "disproportionate" reaction on Sunday when it called the alleged landing "an unacceptable act by which Spain has once again violated Moroccan national air space and territory". The defense minister said: "The helicopter conducted a flight at low altitude over the islet, without landing on the ground, without performing any maneuver that could be considered unfriendly or even out of the ordinary," he said. A statement issued by the Spanish government earlier Monday, also denying the alleged helicopter landing, pledged to continue honoring the July accord. It said Madrid was "surprised by the interpretation" by Rabat of the Spanish helicopter movement. Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio had earlier issued a similar denial on Spanish television. The Moroccan foreign ministry had said Sunday: "This very regrettable incident breaks the spirit and the letter of the (July) accord in the most blatant manner." The statement questioned the "real motives" of the alleged action, "which took place precisely on the eve of the meeting scheduled for Monday in Madrid between the foreign ministers of both countries". Trillo said the Spanish army had detected the presence of a Moroccan patrol boat about a mile from the islet and saw a dinghy being readied, with its destination unknown, and the helicopter was deployed to investigate. The Perejil/Leila dispute erupted in July when Spanish forces expelled a handful of Moroccan troops sent by Rabat to establish an "observation post" on the islet. The two countries are also at odds over the continued flow of migrants -- most crossing the 12-kilometre (eight-mile) Strait of Gibraltar and landing on southern Spain's Andalusian coast. Dozens of people drown among the thousands of migrants who attempt to cross illegally from north Africa to Spain every year, with many also falling victim to overcrowding and harsh conditions. __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Morocco Vs Spain: NATO Brings Peace To The Mediterranean [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://sg.news.yahoo.com/020923/1/331x5.html Agence France-Presse Monday September 23, 9:49 PM Rabat uses "minor incident" to scuttle talks: Madrid [US and French military client state Morocco, invader and occupier of Western Sahara (thanks currently to James Baker and Kofi Annan) and linchpin of NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue - which, moreover, recently saved NATO and the civilized world from al-Qeda - seems, quite in keeping with the times, to have territorial claims on NATO junior flunky Spain. Perhaps the Spanish people, NATOized through no choice and no fault of their own, are expected to draw some minor solace from the fact that German President Rau laid a wreath at the collective gravesite of Nazi Wehrmacht troops - and an estimated 1,500 Franco Falangist *volunteers* - outside of St.Petersburg/Leningrad, where the largest civilian toll of any siege in human history was exacted at the hands of those so honored.] Spain accused Morocco of using a "minor incident" to scuttle talks aimed at rebuilding trust after a bitter territorial dispute that capped a year of deteriorating relations. Defense Minister Federico Trillo said in the central city of Leon that a Spanish helicopter had merely overflown a disputed islet on Sunday, denying a charge that the aircraft had landed there. He said a "minor incident (was) provoked by the Moroccans as a pretext to suspend the visit to Madrid" by Moroccan Foreign Minister Mohamed Benaissa for the scheduled talks with his Spanish counterpart Ana Palacio. The Moroccan government had not reacted by 2:30 pm (1230 GMT) to repeated Spanish denials on Monday. The dispute over the islet off the Moroccan coast, known as Perejil in Spain and Leila in Morocco, was ostensibly settled by a July 22 accord. The row exacerbated relations already strained over fishing, oil exploration off the Canary Islands, drug and people trafficking and Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony annexed by Morocco in 1975. Trillo told a press conference that Rabat had had a "disproportionate" reaction on Sunday when it called the alleged landing "an unacceptable act by which Spain has once again violated Moroccan national air space and territory". The defense minister said: "The helicopter conducted a flight at low altitude over the islet, without landing on the ground, without performing any maneuver that could be considered unfriendly or even out of the ordinary," he said. A statement issued by the Spanish government earlier Monday, also denying the alleged helicopter landing, pledged to continue honoring the July accord. It said Madrid was "surprised by the interpretation" by Rabat of the Spanish helicopter movement. Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio had earlier issued a similar denial on Spanish television. The Moroccan foreign ministry had said Sunday: "This very regrettable incident breaks the spirit and the letter of the (July) accord in the most blatant manner." The statement questioned the "real motives" of the alleged action, "which took place precisely on the eve of the meeting scheduled for Monday in Madrid between the foreign ministers of both countries". Trillo said the Spanish army had detected the presence of a Moroccan patrol boat about a mile from the islet and saw a dinghy being readied, with its destination unknown, and the helicopter was deployed to investigate. The Perejil/Leila dispute erupted in July when Spanish forces expelled a handful of Moroccan troops sent by Rabat to establish an "observation post" on the islet. The two countries are also at odds over the continued flow of migrants -- most crossing the 12-kilometre (eight-mile) Strait of Gibraltar and landing on southern Spain's Andalusian coast. Dozens of people drown among the thousands of migrants who attempt to cross illegally from north Africa to Spain every year, with many also falling victim to overcrowding and harsh conditions. __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Kole: On Cote d'Ivoire [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- Dear Kole, I absolutely defer to you on any and all questions pertaining to the African continent, but it's been my understanding that the two Western bases of attack against the - legally elected - government of Liberia have emanated from Cote d'Ivoire and (Portuguse) Guinea-Bissau. Am I wrong? If the first is in fact the case, am I to assume the attacks were backed by the central government - presumably a member of the French Community - or from Western-supported rebel-held areas? Also, I presume you've read about massive petroleum reserves established near Sao Tome and Principe, where the Western powers are now extending their military presence? The latest estimate I'm familiar with is that the US currently obtains 15% of its crude oil from West Africa, which suggests that this area has its role to play in US/Western war plans in the Near East. Your perspective? Appreciatively, Rick __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
International Vieques Activities: Today [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- [De nuestra hermana Maria a raulmax.aol.com] The following cities have confirmed activities on behalf the peace for Vieques on September, 23, 2002, which include press conferences, sit-ins, demonstrations, etc. Other cities will confirm. If you know about other organized activities, please let us know. -- Hasta el momento se han confirmado actividades en los siguientes países y ciudades. Las mismas incluyen piquetes, micro-mítines, distribución de hojas sueltas, "sit-ins", conferencias de prensa, etc. Otras ciudades por confirmar. Favor de informar si sobre actividades organizadas en otras ciudades. -- Alemania: Berlín, Mainz Bélgica: Bruselas Canadá: Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor y Ottawa Dinamarca: Copenhagen España: Madrid Francia: París Holanda: Amsterdam Irlanda del Norte: Belfast Italia: Roma, Cerdeña México: Ciudad de México República de Irlanda: Dublin Suecia: Estocolmo Suiza: Ginebra Japón: Okinawa Estados Unidos: NY, San Francisco, Seattle, Hartford, Washington, D.C. Puerto Rico: San Juan, Mayaguez, Lares __ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Fw: Is this funny or scary? Must see! Picture [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- - Original Message - From: John Cannon To: mailto:Undisclosed-Recipient:;@server5.safepages.com Sent: Monday, September 23, 2002 8:59 PM Subject: Fw: Is this funny or scary? Must see! Picture This is for real! Look at the book Bush is supposedly reading for his photo-op at a Tennessee elementary school last week! If this guy wasn't supposed to be the leader of the "free world", I'd be laughing my butt offbut seriously, this is scary! --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Thousands of Palestinians back Arafat in protests [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- Reuters (with additional material bt BBC and AFP). 23 September 2002. Thousands of Palestinians back Arafat in protests. GAZA -- Carrying posters of Yasser Arafat and chanting his nom de guerre, thousands of Palestinians took to the streets of the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Monday to show solidarity with their besieged leader. On the second day of demonstrations against the Israeli army siege of Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, protesters gathered in Gaza City, East Jerusalem and Bethlehem, Tulkarm and Qalqilya in the West Bank. Carrying Palestinian flags and posters of Arafat, several thousand protesters, including women and children, marched through Gaza City to the ruins of Arafat's beachfront headquarters destroyed in a December air strike. They shouted their willingness to "become martyrs" for the goal of Palestinian statehood as songs were broadcast on loudspeakers. Many were supporters of Arafat's mainstream Fatah movement but others were armed activists from the militant al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades who fired from rifles into the air. "We will burn the ground under the feet of the Israeli soldiers," the militants shouted. Meanwhile, the 73-year-old leader delivered a defiant speech by telephone Monday to some 3,000 Palestinian students who gathered at Bethlehem university to demonstrate their support. "What is happening now is a very dangerous act. The Palestinian people are struggling to defend their land and dream of establishing a state with Jerusalem as its capital," he said. "The situation is dangerous, but the people can face all dangers. The Palestinian people has seen more dangerous situations than this and won." "We are going to march on Jerusalem and one of our children will raise the Palestinian flag on its walls. We are a people of giants who will not be subdued," a defiant Arafat told the crowd. Students waved his portrait, as his voice was relayed through massive speakers in the university yard. After the speech the crowd of supporters marched through the West Bank town to the Church of the Nativity, which was the scene of the previous siege. The number of demonstrators swelled to 5,000 as schoolchildren joined the rally, shouting: "Arafat is the symbol of peace, liberty and struggle." About 200 students marched to Rachel's Tomb, a holy site revered by Jews and Muslims, and threw stones at soldiers there. Witnesses said several hundred protesters also marched through Tulkarm and Qalqilya. "We will sacrifice our blood and soul for Abu Ammar," they shouted in Qalqilya, using Arafat's nom de guerre. Other signs of support for him took shape as Palestinians in Gaza and Arab east Jerusalem shut up shop or skipped class in line with a strike call. Tayeb Abdel-Rahim, a top Arafat aide, said: "Our people is saying that its legitimate uprising and legitimate struggle will continue. We love to live but we are ready to die for the sake of a dignified and free life." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ProletarianNews http://www.utopia2000.org with photos # # # # # # # # # --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Announcing LMNOP's new "Fact & Act" daily email list [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- - Forwarded message follows - --- Daily Fact 'n Act <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2002 12:00:25 -0700 From: "Daily Fact 'n Act" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: LMNO4P Daily Fact & Act Introduction Daily Fact & Act: Introduction 20 September 2002 LMNOP Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace http://lmno4p.org The United State faces a critical moment in its history. Many in the U.S. feel this, as most of the world community does. We are shocked, frightened, & confused by the sudden and fierce call for the aggressive invasion of a soveriegn state which will result in a massive loss of innocent, civilian lives. Stay Informed Spread Truth Act We are Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace, LMNOP, located on the web at http://lmno4p.org (.com). Our RESOURCES areas offer a large and growing amount of information. Taking from facts we present there through books; articles; alternative, non-corporate media; documentaries; websites, and international press, we have created the LMNO4P Daily Fact & Act email. Every day we will send a Fact & Act email containing: 1. Brief Analysis 2. Daily Urgent Action 3. Fact 4. Deeper Analysis with supporting links To receive the Daily Fact & Act email sign-up at http://lmno4p.org/daily.htm/ Wm Leslie Howard [EMAIL PROTECTED] LMNOP http://lmno4p.org - End of forwarded message - __ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
RE: Is this funny or scary? Must see! Picture [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- Almost as scary as this small selection of a plethora of shameful remarks by the man. politicalhumor.about.com "I promise you I will listen to what has been said here, even though I wasn't here." —George W. Bush, speaking at the President's Economic Forum in Waco, Texas, Aug. 13, 2002 "There may be some tough times here in America. But this country has gone through tough times before, and we're going to do it again." —George W. Bush, Waco, Texas, Aug. 13, 2002 "I love the idea of a school in which people come to get educated and stay in the state in which they're educated." —George W. Bush, Milwaukee, Wis., Aug. 14, 2002 "The problem with the French is that they don't have a word for entrepreneur." —George W. Bush, discussing the decline of the French economy with British Prime Minister Tony Blair "Do you have blacks, too?" —George W. Bush, to Brazilian President Fernando Cardoso, Nov. 8, 2001, as reported in an April 28, 2002, Estado Sao Pauloan column by Fernando Pedreira, a close friend of President Cardoso "We hold dear what our Declaration of Independence says, that all have got uninalienable rights, endowed by a Creator." —George W. Bush, to community and religious leaders in Moscow, May 24, 2002 "After all, a week ago, there were — Yasser Arafat was boarded up in his building in Ramallah, a building full of, evidently, German peace protestors and all kinds of people. They're now out. He's now free to show leadership, to lead the world." —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., May 2, 2002 "This foreign policy stuff is a little frustrating." —George W. Bush, as quoted by the New York Daily News , April 23, 2002 "And so, in my State of the — my State of the Union — or state — my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation — I asked Americans to give 4,000 years — 4,000 hours over the next — the rest of your life — of service to America. That's what I asked — 4,000 hours." —George W. Bush, Bridgeport, Conn., April 9, 2002 "There's nothing more deep than recognizing Israel's right to exist. That's the most deep thought of all. ... I can't think of anything more deep than that right." —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 13, 2002 "He [Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi] said I want to make it very clear to you exactly what I intend to do and he talked about non-performing loans, the devaluation issue and regulatory reform and he placed equal emphasis on all three." —George W. Bush, who had meant to say "the deflation issue" rather than "the devaluation issue," and accidentally sent the Japanese Yen tumbling, Tokyo, Feb. 18, 2002 "I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Hanukkah." —George W. Bush, at a White House Menorah lighting ceremony, Washington, D.C., Dec. 10, 2001 "We are fully committed to working with both sides to bring the level of terror down to an acceptable level for both." —George W. Bush, after a meeting with congressional leaders, Washington, D.C., Oct. 2, 2001 "One of the interesting initiatives we've taken in Washington, D.C., is we've got these vampire-busting devices. A vampire is a — a cell deal you can plug in the wall to charge your cell phone." —George W. Bush, Denver, Aug. 14, 2001 "My administration has been calling upon all the leaders in the — in the Middle East to do everything they can to stop the violence, to tell the different parties involved that peace will never happen." —George W. Bush, Crawford, Texas, Aug, 13, 2001 "I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe — I believe what I believe is right." —George W. Bush, in Rome, July 22, 2001 "Anyway, I'm so thankful, and so gracious — I'm gracious that my brother Jeb is concerned about the hemisphere as well." —George W. Bush, June 4, 2001 "For every fatal shooting, there were roughly three non-fatal shootings. And, folks, this is unacceptable in America. It's just unacceptable. And we're going to do something about it." —George W. Bush, May 14 "There's no question that the minute I got elected, the storm clouds on the horizon were getting nearly directly overhead." —George W. Bush, May 11, 2001 "But I also made it clear to (Vladimir Putin) that it's important to think beyond the old days of when we had the concept that if we blew each other up, the world would be safe." —George W. Bush, May 1, 2001 "Neither in French nor in English nor in Mexican." —George W. Bush, declining to take reporters' questions during a photo op with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, April 21, 2001 "I suspect that had my dad not been president, he'd be asking the same questions: How'd your meeting go with so-and-so? … How did you feel when you stood up in front of the people for the State of the Union Address—state of the budget address, whatever you call it." —George W. Bush, in an interview with the Washington Post, March 9, 2001 "You te
Ramallah: Palestinians beat pans and pots against occupation [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.U
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- Reuters. 23 September 2002. Pans and pots to end Israeli siege and occupation. RAMALLAH -- Palestinians across the West Bank adopted a new tactic in their uprising for statehood on Tuesday, beating pots and pans in rhythmic rejection of Israel's siege of President Yasser Arafat. Just after midnight, hundreds of Palestinians, many holding metal and wooden sticks, defied Israeli curfews to take the streets of Ramallah and other West Bank cities to carry out the noisy protest. Others drummed on cookware on their balconies. "We have tried all means to liberate our country, but it didn't work. Maybe with this noise, the world will heed out suffering," said Roba Abu Roqti, 26, who stood on her veranda in Ramallah to beat a pot in defiance of Israel. "Let's try a civilised way of resistance," she said. Hundreds of Palestinians gathered at Ramallah's main al-Manara Square, just several hundred metres away from where Israeli tanks surrounded Arafat's battered headquarters. The protesters clanged wooden kitchen spoons against metal objects and signposts that had been knocked down by Israeli tanks. Others beat on the rooftops of cars and on electric poles with their bare hands. "They formed an orchestra. This is another way of struggle," said Ramallah resident Ma'moum Sharif as he stood watching. Israeli soldiers fired tear gas and warning shots to disperse the Ramallah demonstration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ProletarianNews http://www.utopia2000.org --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Gore slams Iraq war, doctrine of pre-emption [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- Reuters. 23 September 2002. Gore in California Speech Warns Against Iraq Attack. [I never thought I'd see the day Al Gore would make the cut in ProletarianNews -- but this speech signals in no uncertain terms that the US mainstream is moving against Bush...] SAN FRANCISCO -- Former Vice President Al Gore came out strongly on Monday against any precipitous U.S. attack on Iraq, saying the Bush administration has embarked on a dangerous course that could alienate allies and derail America's war on terror. Gore, who narrowly lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, said in a major speech here that the Republican administration risked undermining international rule of law by setting its sights on "regime change" in Baghdad. He lashed out at Bush support for pre-emptive strikes, calling it "a go it alone, cowboy-style" approach to foreign policy. "Great nations persevere and then prevail, they do not jump from one unfinished task to another," Gore said, warning that the war against terrorism was far from over. "I do not believe that we should allow ourselves to be distracted from this urgent task (the war on terror) simply because it is proving to be more difficult and lengthy than first predicted," Gore told an enthusiastic audience at the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco. Gore, the only potential 2004 Democratic presidential contender who has not spoken out on Iraq in recent weeks, broke his silence with a spirited broadside against Bush administration policies, which he said were sowing fear and confusion around the world. "If you are going after (famed Wild West outlaw) Jesse James, you ought to organize the posse first," Gore said. Gore said the new Bush administration policy of seeking pre-emptive strikes against possible security threats painted the United States as a unilateralist bully and undermined international goodwill sparked by the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington. "That has been squandered in a year's time and replaced with fear, anxiety and uncertainty all around the world -- not about what the terrorist networks are going to do, but about what we're going to do," Gore said. Gore conceded that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was a potential threat and said that Washington should seek the rest of the world's support in devising a plan to deal with him "in a timely fashion." He said he believed the United States had the right, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, to take action against imminent threats and could move against Iraq if it truly felt Baghdad's alleged drive to acquire weapons of mass destruction put its interests in immediate danger. But he said a quick war with Iraq now could create more problems than it solves -- costing taxpayers billions of dollars, fanning international fears about U.S. unilateralism, and leaving post-war Iraq as unstable, dangerous and disorganized as post-war Afghanistan. "The resulting chaos in the aftermath of a military victory with Iraq could easily pose a far greater danger to the United States than does Saddam," Gore said. "If we end the war in Iraq the way we ended the war in Afghanistan, we could very well be in a position where we are worse off than we are today." Gore saved some of his sharpest words for the newly announced doctrine of pre-emption -- a strategy which calls on U.S. forces to strike first against potential threats and ensure unchallenged U.S. military superiority. Calling the new policy a "go it alone, cowboy-type" approach to foreign policy, Gore said Bush risked shaking the very foundations of the international political order by flouting laws and disregarding world opinion. [N.B.]"The very logic of the concept suggests a string of military engagements against a succession of sovereign states," Gore said. "If other nations exert the same right, then the rule of law would quickly be replaced by the reign of fear." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ProletarianNews http://www.utopia2000.org # # # # # # # # # --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^==
Israeli women's groups: Indict Sharon [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- Independent [Robert Fisk]. 24 September 2002. Prosecute Sharon for war crimes, Israeli women say. BEIRUT -- In an astonishing letter to the Palestinian survivors of the 1982 Sabra and Shatila camps massacres, nine Israeli women's peace groups have told Palestinians in Beirut that they support their efforts to indict the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, for "war crimes" committed against them almost exactly 20 years ago. The women's letter, which was sent via the United States, has amazed the Lebanese lawyer representing the survivors of the massacre, for which Mr Sharon was held "personally responsible" by an Israeli inquiry. "It is a wonderful gesture," Chibli Mallat said yesterday. "It is a wonderful message to receive in these very dangerous and violent times." The letter, from the Coalition of Women for A Just Peace in Israel, speaks movingly of the suffering of the Palestinians in 1982. "Our hearts ache to recall the terrible massacre that took place in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps 20 years ago, which Israeli leaders allowed to take place," it says. "We condemn the brutal murderers of your loved ones and we condemn the leaders who must be held accountable for these war crimes, Ariel Sharon above all." Up to 1,700 Palestinians were butchered in the massacre by Lebanese militiamen allied to the Israelis. Israeli troops surrounded the camps as the killings went on but were told by their commanders not to interfere. Mr Sharon was Israeli Minister of Defence at the time and was forced to resign after the Israeli Kahan commission condemned him and several senior Israeli officers for not preventing the slaughter. A Belgian court ruled earlier this year that it could not indict Mr Sharon for the killings, but more than 20 survivors of the massacre, whose lawyers include Mr Mallat, are now appealing against this decision. The women's letter recalls how the Palestinians were forced to flee their homes in 1948. "We join you in mourning for those who were killed and maimed [in 1982] and we condemn those who are responsible," it says. "We hope you will accept the sincerity of our words and allow us to stand in solidarity with you as we strive to build peace with justice between Israel and Palestine." Mohamed abu Rudeina, who as a seven-year-old boy saw his father and other relatives murdered 20 years ago, described the Israeli women's letter as a "moving act" that would greatly encourage other Palestinian survivors who are seeking justice for the deaths of their loved ones. The specific mention of Mr Sharon's name is likely to cause considerable discomfort to the Israeli Prime Minister, who hired lawyers to defend him in Brussels and who has not previously experienced any attempt by Israelis to indict him. Mr Mallat said it was the first gesture of solidarity to the camp survivors from Israelis, 20 years after a lone Israeli, Emile Grunzweig, was killed by a hand grenade thrown into a crowd of protesters in Tel Aviv. "We regard Mr Grunzweig as an Israeli who died for Sabra and Shatila," Mr Mallat said. "Now at last, we seem to have got support from Israelis about the terrible crimes against humanity which occurred in Beirut two decades ago." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ProletarianNews http://www.utopia2000.org # # # # # # # # # --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Appeal to soldiers for Bloody Sunday truth [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,797750,00.html Appeal to soldiers for Bloody Sunday truth Rosie Cowan, Ireland correspondent Tuesday September 24, 2002 The Guardian -"It is our hope that the 300 military witnesses, one of whom is my brother's murderer, who will give evidence here in London will do so openly and honestly. The brother of a man killed on Bloody Sunday yesterday appealed to the soldier who killed him to finally tell the truth about what happened 30 years ago in Derry, as the tribunal moves to London today. Lord Saville's new inquiry into the deaths of 14 unarmed Catholic men shot dead by paratroopers during a civil rights march in the Bogside on January 30 1972 has already questioned 571 people, including police, journalists and forensic experts, but mainly civilian witnesses, in Derry's Guildhall over two and a half years. It is today relocating to Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, where it will sit for up to a year, to hear evidence from around 300 soldiers who were in Derry that day, plus military commanders and senior politicians involved in decisions before and after Bloody Sunday. The move is a result of a lengthy legal battle, as the relatives of the dead wanted the soldiers to return to Derry, but the Ministry of Defence successfully argued that they would be at risk from terrorists there. The soldiers, apart from a few senior figures, also won their case to retain anonymity. But about 30 relatives who will travel to and from London on a regular basis will be able to face in open court the men who killed their loved ones. They see this as the real start of the inquiry, where the soldiers will have the chance to come clean about what they did and who ordered them to do it. John Kelly, whose 17-year-old brother Michael died on Bloody Sunday, said at a press conference in the Commons yesterday: "It is our hope that the 300 military witnesses, one of whom is my brother's murderer, who will give evidence here in London will do so openly and honestly. "To you, British soldiers who were allowed to lie in 1972, I say the only one you have hidden from is yourself. You have nothing to fear from us. Let us take some good from the terrible legacy you have left behind in Ireland since January 1972, since Bloody Sunday. By helping establish the truth about Bloody Sunday you can play your part in building genuine reconciliation between the people of Ireland and Britain." Soldier F, the man who shot Michael Kelly, told the Widgery tribunal in 1972 that he fired at a man carrying a "fizzing object" he took to be a bomb. It was claims like this and Widgery's conclusion that many of the victims were carrying guns or bombs, that infuriated their relatives and led to a relentless campaign for a new inquiry, which was finally sanctioned by Tony Blair. It has attracted criticism for its costs, currently £70m and which could rise to £200m by the time Lord Saville issues his final report in 2004. But relatives see it as the price the government must pay for not telling the truth at the time. Mr Kelly said: "My brother Michael was neither a gunman nor a bomber. He was just an ordinary young man doing his civic duty by protesting against British human rights abuses." Today, the inquiry will hear from Brigadier Sir Frank Kitson, the Belfast army commander who sent 1 Para to Derry on the orders of General Sir Robert Ford, the commander of land forces in Northern Ireland, who will also testify in the coming weeks, as will the commander of 1 Para, Lieutenant Colonel Derek Wilford. On Thursday, lawyers for the families will press Lieutenant Colonel Colin Overbury, who headed the army's Widgery team and later became a senior legal officer at the European commission, on allegations that he supervised a cover-up of the killings. Next week, the inquiry will hear the strange story of army secretary "Inq 1872", who lost an arm on the last night of the Widgery tribunal, when lawyers out with soldiers in the Bogside got caught in a shoot-out with the IRA. Politicians due to testify in London include the then prime minister, Sir Edward Heath; defence minister Lord Carrington; and former army minister Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith. The inquiry will return to Derry from time to time to hear other civilian witnesses, including Martin McGuinness, who was the IRA's second-in-command in Derry at the time of Bloody Sunday but insists the Provisionals took all their guns out of the Bogside before the march. __ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now
NATO: 4 New Rapid Deployment HQ's With 60,000 Troops [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2002/09-september/e0923a.htm NATO Online NATO Update September 23, 2002 Four New Multinational, Rapidly Deployable Headquarters Assigned To NATO -"These additional deployable, tailored higher readiness headquarters are a significant new asset for NATO," said Gen. Joseph Ralston, the SACEUR. "European nations collectively have invested more than one billion euros to develop these capabilities. The fact that nations are prepared to put them under NATO command is a key element of our reform effort to develop more relevant structures and capabilities for the Alliance." -the Rapid Deployable Turkish Corps HQ (based on the 3rd Turkish Corps in Istanbul, Turkey). SHAPE Headquarters, Casteau -- Four new land-based, rapidly deployable headquarters capable of commanding forces of up to 60,000 personnel on operations were today designated as NATO international military headquarters. This brings to five the number of Corps-sized headquarters that are placed under the operational command of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) in peacetime. "These additional deployable, tailored higher readiness headquarters are a significant new asset for NATO," said Gen. Joseph Ralston, the SACEUR. "European nations collectively have invested more than one billion euros to develop these capabilities. The fact that nations are prepared to put them under NATO command is a key element of our reform effort to develop more relevant structures and capabilities for the Alliance." The HQs newly assigned to NATO are the Rapid Deployable German/Netherlands Corps HQ (based on the 1st German-Netherlands Corps in Münster, Germany); the Rapid Deployable Italian Corps (based on the Italian Rapid Reaction Corps in Milan, Italy); the Rapid Deployable Spanish Corps HQ (based on the Spanish Corps in Valencia, Spain); and the Rapid Deployable Turkish Corps HQ (based on the 3rd Turkish Corps in Istanbul, Turkey). The fifth Corps-sized formation, the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) in Rheindahlen, Germany, is already designated a NATO international military headquarters with a special reporting relationship to the SACEUR. A sixth Corps-sized headquarters, based in Strasbourg, France, (the Eurocorps), has signed a technical agreement with NATO and could also be committed under NATO command. Agreements that detail command and control arrangements, and administrative issues such as cost sharing and manning were signed here today at NATO's senior European-based military headquarters. The SHAPE Chief of Staff, Admiral Sir Ian Garnett, presided over a ceremony that included commanders of the Corps headquarters newly assigned to NATO, and military representatives from the various nations providing personnel to the newly designated units, among others. Each Corps headquarters is built from the personnel, equipment and financial resources principally from one "framework" nation (or two nations, in the case of the Rapid Deployable German/Netherlands Corps HQ, and five nations [Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and Spain] in the case of the Eurocorps). All are open to personnel contributions from any of the other NATO nations, who now do or will provide personnel to the four new headquarters, and the two subsequent Graduated Readiness Forces Headquarters (ARRC and Eurocorps). For additional information, please contact the media offices at: NATO International Military Staff: 00-32-2-707-5422 SHAPE Headquarters: 00-32-65-44-4159 Rapid Deployable German/Netherlands Corps HQ: 00-49-251-506-2090 Rapid Deployable Italian Corps HQ: 00-39-0331-63-1237 Rapid Deployable Spanish Rapid Reaction Corps HQ: 00-34-961-60-52-43 Rapid Deployable Turkish Corps HQ: 00-90-212-285-0646 x2080 Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps HQ: 00-49-2161-565-5715 Eurocorps HQ: 00-33-388-43-30-61 __ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Report: "Stealth' Military Buildup In Gulf Intensifies [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/09/24/nirq224.xml&sSheet=/news/2002/09/24/ixnewstop.html Daily Telegraph September 24, 2002 Military build-up in Gulf continues By David Rennie in Washington -The operations are being backed by special forces and a significant increase in air and naval firepower. -In one example of stealth deployment, defence department and military officials told the New York Times that "handfuls" of Special Operations troops are to be temporarily loaned to the CIA. Giving civilian status to these elite troops, used for operations behind enemy lines, will allow the Pentagon to deny that uniformed personnel are in action in Iraq. -Britain has been asked to allow permission to base B-2 stealth bombers at its Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. A stealthy build-up of American forces in the Gulf is well under way, as commanders use the cover of "training exercises" to send thousands of US Marines and ground forces to the region, it was reported yesterday. The operations are being backed by special forces and a significant increase in air and naval firepower. As President George W Bush continues his campaign to secure congressional and diplomatic backing for Saddam Hussein's overthrow, military commanders are making sure they will be ready for war - while still being able to deny that a final decision has been taken. In recent days, a string of administration and defence officials have leaked details about preparations for war in what appears to be a campaign to build a sense that military action is inevitable. The White House confirmed at the weekend that Mr Bush was recently handed a set of options for action against Iraq. The US defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, appeared to confirm leaked reports that the focus of any US attack would be Saddam's military and security machine - not civilians. The steady drumbeat of war seems designed to undercut sceptics. The torrent of leaks, which may well include deliberate disinformation, is also aimed at Iraqi commanders, whom Washington hopes will abandon Saddam. In one example of stealth deployment, defence department and military officials told the New York Times that "handfuls" of Special Operations troops are to be temporarily loaned to the CIA. Giving civilian status to these elite troops, used for operations behind enemy lines, will allow the Pentagon to deny that uniformed personnel are in action in Iraq. Britain has been asked to allow permission to base B-2 stealth bombers at its Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. With Saudi Arabia - the key forward base for US forces in the 1991 Gulf War - proving an uncertain ally now, steps are being taken to complete a command centre in Qatar. __ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
UK: Liberal Democrat Head Attacks Bush As Imperialist [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK]
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/09/24/nlibs24.xml&sSheet=/news/2002/09/24/ixnewstop.html Daily Telegraph September 24, 2002 Kennedy attacks 'imperialist' Bush By Benedict Brogan, Political Correspondent -"Who decides the legitimacy of such change? On what basis in international law? And with what ultimate objective in mind? I have yet to hear a satisfactory answer to these questions. There is more than a hint of imperialism here," he said to sustained applause. -Mr Kennedy, who travels to London today to answer Mr Blair's statement on Iraq, said he was worried about America "undermining the moral, legal and practical authority of the United Nations". -A delegate, William Beard, of Wolverhampton, attacked "this unjustified, unwanted and unwinnable war". Anti-American rhetoric surfaced from a senior front-bencher when Malcolm Bruce described the Bush administration as a "regime" and condemned its "arrogant defiance" on green issues. Charles Kennedy tapped into growing anti-Americanism in his party yesterday by accusing President Bush of "imperialism" in the build-up to war against Iraq. On the eve of the emergency recall of Parliament, he warned Tony Blair that he could not count on Liberal Democrat support in a Commons vote for military action. Making an emergency statement to his party conference in Brighton, he was cheered when he questioned the motives behind the White House's policy of "regime change" in Baghdad. Adopting a stance that has raised eyebrows in certain sections of the party, he said he was "increasingly concerned" about Mr Bush's determination to overthrow Saddam Hussein. "Who decides the legitimacy of such change? On what basis in international law? And with what ultimate objective in mind? I have yet to hear a satisfactory answer to these questions. There is more than a hint of imperialism here," he said to sustained applause. Mr Kennedy, who travels to London today to answer Mr Blair's statement on Iraq, said he was worried about America "undermining the moral, legal and practical authority of the United Nations". There were "extreme uncertainties and dangers" in going to war against Saddam Hussein, he said. But military action should not be ruled out "as a last resort". He said: "The first priority of the Government must be the return of the UN weapons inspectors. Anything less than unfettered access anywhere in Iraq is unacceptable. "The unconditional return of the inspectors requires a clear timetable and no ruling out of an ultimate resort to military action if that necessary compliance is denied or thwarted. But we are not there yet." Mr Kennedy was heard mainly in silence. Delegates reserved applause for the sections that were the most questioning of American motives and his call for pressure to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestinians. He said Britain should take account of the "sensitivities" of its Muslim community and of the Arab world at large. He reiterated his support for the Government's policy of "standing shoulder to shoulder" with America after September 11 but said Britain must remain a "candid friend", willing to offer "the occasional cautionary tap on the shoulder". With the Government's dossier on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction to be published today, he said America had produced "no definitive evidence directly linking" Baghdad to al-Qa'eda. Lib Dems would adopt a "common-sense approach" to the issue. In a signal to Mr Blair that he could not bank on the Lib Dems to defeat Labour anti-war MPs, Mr Kennedy said his party would not suspend its "critical faculties". The mood of the conference is running against war and America's robust diplomacy since September 11. Lib Dems will debate an emergency motion on Iraq tomorrow which calls on Iraq to allow weapons inspectors unfettered access and says military action should only take place with UN, EU and Parliamentary approval. Although the motion makes no mention of America, senior front-benchers are concerned that the tone of the debate could be harshly critical of the United States. A delegate, William Beard, of Wolverhampton, attacked "this unjustified, unwanted and unwinnable war". Anti-American rhetoric surfaced from a senior front-bencher when Malcolm Bruce described the Bush administration as a "regime" and condemned its "arrogant defiance" on green issues. __ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^=
Ivory Coast: French *Humanitarian* Troops To Wipe Out Rebels [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.U
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/09/24/wivory24.xml&sSheet=/news/2002/09/24/ixworld.html French close in on Ivory Coast rebels By Tim Butcher Africa Correspondent -[I]t seemed likely that the heavily armed convoy of French troops, ostensibly sent to rescue around 500 foreigners from Bouake, would be used to deliver the decisive blow against the rebels. -The deployment echoed that by Britain to its former colony, Sierra Leone, in May 2000. Whitehall repeatedly said troops were there only to secure the withdrawal of British passport holders. British troops remain to this day A French expeditionary force edged towards the main rebel-held town in the Ivory Coast yesterday as the once stable west African country remained gripped by violence and instability. Rebels in the town of Bouake threatened to fight to the death against troops loyal to the government of President Laurent Gbagbo. But it seemed likely that the heavily armed convoy of French troops, ostensibly sent to rescue around 500 foreigners from Bouake, would be used to deliver the decisive blow against the rebels. The French defence minister, Michele Alliot-Marie, claimed that the reinforced French presence was a precautionary measure to help French citizens and others. About 100 American children thought to be are at a school for mission families in Bouake. The deployment echoed that by Britain to its former colony, Sierra Leone, in May 2000. Whitehall repeatedly said troops were there only to secure the withdrawal of British passport holders. British troops remain to this day, a major deterrent to a return to civil war. Mr Ggabgo has the support of Paris and it is known that the French government would prefer a swift end to the Ivory Coast's troubles, which began last Thursday with an armed uprising by soldiers. __ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^
Australia: MP Says War Puts US 'In Same Basket With Terrorists' [WWW.STOPNATO.OR
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --- http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/09/24/1032734161269.html Lib MP breaks ranks over war on Saddam Sydney Morning Herald September 24 2002 -"Terrorism must not go unchallenged but, equally so, for a nation to just unilaterally decide to go in without proper reason or proper support from the United Nations, I think puts that nation in the same basket as the terrorists." A Liberal backbencher today broke ranks with the government and equated backing any US unilateral action against Iraq with terrorism. Like Labor's Harry Quick - who earlier said he was totally against war with Iraq - Queensland MP Peter Lindsay said he would reject Australian support for unilateral action against Iraq by the US without further evidence justifying a self-defence military strike. If parliament voted to send Australia troops to support a unilateral attack, Mr Lindsay said he would vote against it on present circumstances. "Terrorism must not go unchallenged but, equally so, for a nation to just unilaterally decide to go in without proper reason or proper support from the United Nations, I think puts that nation in the same basket as the terrorists," Mr Lindsay told ABC Radio. "On the basis of what we are seeing I do not support unilateral action against Iraq by the United States." Opposition Leader Simon Crean asked Foreign Minister Alexander Downer if he endorsed Mr Lindsay's comments. Mr Downer could only repeat the government's position on Iraq and scold Mr Crean for trying to make political points on the Iraq issue. "Since the beginning of the debate that we had in the parliament last week we have endeavoured not to make political points on this serious issue," Mr Downer said. He said there were differences of opinion on the Opposition benches as well. Despite days of public agonising over the possibility of whether to demand a conscience vote on any future move to send Australian troops to Iraq, only one MP raised that issue in today's caucus meeting. And that MP said a conscience vote was unnecessary, the spokesman said. ``No-one got up and said that we demand or want or are desirous of a conscience vote,'' the spokesman said. Earlier, Mr Quick, a Labor MP from Tasmania, said he had received widespread support from the community for his stand. "I've had dozens and dozens of emails and phone calls from parents saying we don't want to send our kids, keep up the good work," he told reporters. Asked if he was prepared to be expelled over the issue, Mr Quick said: "If we support a pre-emptive strike against Iraq, yes I am." Mr Quick was also against a United Nations-endorsed attack on Iraq. "I'm totally against the war, it's a US-manufactured war and I don't support it in any shape or form," he said. Mr Quick said dozens of his parliamentary colleagues supported his position. The Labor caucus is meeting this morning to finalise its position on Australia's involvement in any strike against Iraq. Opposition Leader Simon Crean yesterday ruled out a conscience vote on the issue, saying Labor would vote as one. His decision comes despite calls from some MPs for Labor to allow a conscience vote. Other Labor MPs downplayed suggestions of division within the party. Labor backbencher Dick Adams said while some MPs were opposed to war, there had been a full debate on the issue. "The idea of having a conscience vote on Iraq is not on, I don't think that will be expected," he told reporters. Mr Adams said anyone voting against the party position would face the consequences of their actions, namely expulsion. Opposition frontbencher Anthony Albanese said MPs joined the Labor Party to follow the party position. "If I wanted to (have a conscience vote and) be an independent, I would come here as the independent member for Grayndler," he said. Labor frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon said it was important that Labor voted as one on the issue of Iraq. "There's not much point in having a major political party if they're not going to be making decisions in the interest of the Australian people," he said. Opposition environment spokesman Kelvin Thompson said he was confident the Labor caucus would be able to make the correct judgement about Iraq. "The thing about a conscience vote is that it suggests that we can't continue to get it right," he said. Labor backbencher Duncan Kerr said the prospect of military action against Iraq was an issue of great concern. "It's probably the most important issue I've been a member of parliament considering," Mr Kerr told reporters. "I think we should approach any vote that occurs on this with the utmost seriousness." __ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com --- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^ This email wa
