USA/UNITED STATES/AMERICAS


Table of Contents for United States

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1) Editorial Calls on RSA Navy To Play Containment Role in
'Pirate-Haunted' Somalia
Editorial: "Time To Look Northward"
2) Xinhua 'Analysis': as Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Wages, Jordan
Remains Big Role in Making Peace
Xinhua "Analysis" by Mohammad Ghazal: "as Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Wages, Jordan Remains Big Role in Making Peace"
3) Afghan Documents on WikiLeaks, FSB Documents on Lubyanskayapravda.com
Contrasted
Article by Andrey Soldatov, 02 Aug; place not given: "Leaks: American and
Russian Versions"; accessed via Yezhednevnyy Zhurnal
4) Wikileaks Scandal: Daily Flays Afghanistan Accusatory Fingering at
Pakistan
Editorial: Karzai's Rant
5) Article on Documents Leakage Says Allegations Against ISI Illogical
Article by Malik Muhamma d Ashraf: The leaks by WikiLeaks
6) Article Backs Governments Move To Give Extension to Army Chief
Article by Khalid Iqbal: The continuity factor!
7) Article Seeks New Security Doctrine To Counter Wests Criticism Against
Pakistan
Article by Ahmed Quraishi: Mice into lions
8) India Starts Giving Deceiving Color to Kashmiris Movement to Malign
Pakistan
Report by Muhammad Saleh Zaafir: India initiates fresh anti-Pakistan
drive in IHK
9) EU Delegate Head Says Sri Lankan Governments War Against LTTE, Not Act
of Crime
Report by Shamindra Ferdinando: War Against LTTE not a Criminal Act Says
EU
10) Editorial Urges Rulers To Restore Confidence Through Transparency
Editorial: "Transit Trade Agreement; Information Minister's Appreciable
Stance"
11) Is It Goodbye, America?
"Is It Goodbye, America?" -- NOW Leba non Headline
12) Germany Contributed Names to Afghanistan 'Capture or Kill' List
Unattributed report: "Hit List Made in Germany"
13) Press TV says Iran to respond to possible US strike, NATO fails in
Afghanistan
14) Xinhua 'Backgrounder': Pacific Islands Forum
Xinhua "Backgrounder": "Pacific Islands Forum"
15) S. Korea's 2009 Exports Rank 9th-largest in World
16) Buyers of Noga Shares May Not Make Claims Against Russian - Ministry
17) Hovik Abrahamyan is surprised .::. The Armenian News by A1
18) Indonesia's Exports up 45 Pct in First Half This Year
Xinhua: "Indonesia's Exports up 45 Pct in First Half This Year"
19) DPRK Cabinet Paper Views Electoral Defeat of Japan's Democratic Party
The vernacular full text of the following Minju Joson "signed commentary"
has been obtained from the KPM website and is attached in PDF format; KCNA
headline: "Minju Joson on Crushing Defeat of DPJ in Election"
20) People's Daily Online: China Now Second Largest World Economy, PBOC
Official
By Liang Jun, People's Daily Online: "Central bank official: China now 2nd
largest world economy"
21) Various Countries Mark 'Korean People's War Victory Day'
KCNA headline: "Korean People's War Victory Day Marked in Different
Countries"
22) Big Media is the Message
"Viewpoint" column by Kim Sung-cheol, a professor of the School of
Journalism and Mass Media at Korea University and Translation by the
JoongAng Daily staff: "Big Media is the Message"
23) US Refuses To Send Envoy to Pyongyang for Release of Citizen
Xinhua: "U.S. Refuses To Send Envoy To Pyongyang for Release of Citizen"<
br>24) US Opinion Split Over July's US-South Korea Military Exercises
Article by Yosuke Inuzuka: "Four Days of US-South Korea Military Exercises
End: Opinion Divided on United States Response of Compromise"
25) Pakistan Press Nawa-e Waqt 2 Aug 10
To request additional processing, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735.
26) Turkey Still Offers Much on An Iran Deal
"Turkey Still Offers Much on An Iran Deal" -- The Daily Star Headline
27) New Kyoto Protocol Might Not Happen After 2012 - Analyst
28) US To Adopt DPRK Sanctions in 'Next Several Weeks'
Following is source-supplied 5th lead item which recasts lead and
headline; By Chang Jae-soon and Lee Haye-ah: "(5th LD) U.S. to carry out
new sanctions on N. Korea in several weeks"
29) US Hopes New Sanctions Will Change NK
By Kim Ji-hyun: "US Hopes New Sanctions Will Change NK"
30) RSA's Ambassador-Designate to Canada Admits to Involvement in
Plagiarism Scandal
Report by Mandy Roussouw: "New Envoy in Plagiarism Scandal"
31) China Economic News in Brief: Harbin Auto Show; Jiangsu Aviation
Sector; Jiangxi Exports; Beijing Tourism Figures
Xinhua: "China Economic News in Brief: Harbin Auto Show; Jiangsu Aviation
Sector; Jiangxi Exports; Beijing Tourism Figures"
32) UN Must Take Up Forgotten Kashmir Issue, End India Tyranny
Article by Muhammad Farooq Rehmani: Kashmiris be Heard as Kosovo
33) ROK Editorial Urges President to Pursue 'Balanced Foreign Policy'
Editorial: "Balanced Foreign Policy"
34) Indonesia Encourages Reviving Six-Party Talks for Peaceful Solution on
Korean Peninsula
Xinhua: "Indonesia Encourages Reviving Six-Party Talks for Peaceful
Solution on Korean Peninsula"
35) Pakistan Article Says US Silence on Headley Issue Strengthen Indian
Propaganda
Report by Momin Iftikhar: Headley, LeT and the Indian spin doctors
36) Pakistani Article Ridicules US Claim of Usama's Presence in Nation
Article by Azim Sarwar: "Usama Is in Pakistan"
37) US Electoral Watchdog Finds 2010 Election Framework 'Undemocratic'
Mizzima news from "Election 2010" section: "US electoral watchdog
lambastes Burma's planned elections "
38) ROK Editorial Says ROK To 'Rethink' Middle-East Diplomacy
Editorial: "S.Korea Needs to Rethink Its Middle East Diplomacy"
39) RSA Weekly Examines Shortage of Small Currency for Change in Zimbabwe
Report by Jason Moyo: "No Change in Zimbabwe"
40) BTA Reviews 2 Aug Bulgarian Press Highlights
&qu ot;Press Review" -- BTA headline
41) African Leaders Express Doubt Over Obama's Commitment Toward Somali
Issue
Unattributed report: "Leaders Blast US for Soft Stance on Somalia"
42) Russia's Great Gas Game Is a Ploy To Revive Past Power
"Russia's Great Gas Game Is a Ploy To Revive Past Power" -- The Daily Star
Headline
43) Secretary Interior Says Govt Has No Proof of Dr Aafia's Kidnapping
Report by staff correspondent: "No evidence of Aafia's abduction from
Karachi, LHC told"
44) Raul Castro Addresses Labor, Salary Measures, Prisoners, US Relations
corrected version: correcting typo; Full text of Cuban President Raul
Castro's address at the closing of the fifth session of the Seventh
Legislature of the National Assembly of the People's Government.
45) Lithuanian Article Analyzes Impact of State Security Reforms on 'State
smen Clan'
Article by Tomas Jankauskas: "Blow to Statesmen's Bastion"
46) U.S. Asks For S. Korea's Help With Sanctions on N. Korea
47) Success, Failure of Sanctions on DPRK Depends on China
Chosun Ilbo headline: The Most Important Aim of Sanctions Against N.Korea
48) Dvorkin Argues That START III Ratification Is to Russia's Benefit
Article by Major-General (Retired) Vladimir Zinovyevich Dvorkin, chief
scientific associate of Russian Academy of Sciences World Economics and
International Relations Institute, under rubric "Realities": "Prague
Treaty: Plus Times Minus Equals Plus: START Ratification Is to Russia's
Benefit"
49) Schwarzenberg Says Czech Troops To Control Proposed MD Early Warning
Center
Interview with Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, TOP 09 (Tradition,
Responsibility, and Prosperity 09) chairman, by "rsk"; place and date not
given: "Americans Were Waiting for Developments in Czech Republic"
50) DPRK's KCNA: Russian Organizations Decry US-ROK Combined Naval
Exercises
KCNA headline: "U.S.-S. Korea War Exercises Protested"
51) Press Agency Review of 2 Aug Czech Press
"Czech Press Survey" -- Czech Happenings headline
52) Czech Communists Plan Protests Against Proposed NATO MD Early Warning
Center
Report by "jov": "KSCM and Activists Are Against [Early Warning Center],
Planning New Protests"
53) Editorial Wants Parliament Take Notice of Issuance of Visas to US Men
Editorial: Intriguing issue of mysterious Pak visas
54) Group in Mexico Supports Stand of DPRK Army, People
KCNA headline: "Stand of DPRK Army And People Supported in Mexico"
55) PTI Chief Alleges CIA Created Al-Qaida, Pakistan Fa cing its Brunt
Report by staff correspondent: Al-Qaeda a product of CIA: Imran
56) North Repositions Artillery: Sources
57) UN Rejects Uganda's Proposal for Retaliatory Action Against Somali
Rebels
Report by Michael Wakabi and Charles Kazooba: "Keep Peace! Don't Enforce
It, AU Tells Amisom, Uganda"
58) DHR, Civic Society Announce To Protest Against Aafia, Missing People
"Announcement of March From Lahore to Parliament House on 7 August for
Aafia's Release, Recovery of Missing People" -- SANA headline
59) Russian deputy PM Sechin apparently in charge of relations with BP
60) Pakistan Tehrik-e- Insaaf Chief Terms Al-Qai'da as Product of CIA
Report by staff reporters: "Imran slams Zardari for visiting UK"
61) Spanish daily slams 'juicy' payouts to outgoing BP boss
62) Sutyagin Not Gi ving Up Hope of Returning to Russia - Brother
63) US Man Killed Motorcyclist in Capital Road Mishap Still at Large
Report by Shakeel Anjum: The American arrogance and a poor Pakistani
soul
64) Government Moving To Deal With Declining Reserves
CMC Headline: "TRINIDAD-ENERGY-Government Moving To Deal With Declining
Reserves"
65) Caribbean Nationals Found Guilty of Terrorist Charges
CMC Headline: "URGENT-UNITED STATES-TERORISM- Caribbean Nationals Found
Guilty of Terrorist Charges"
66) Experts Urge Net-Based Approach to Army Command, Relations With
Society
Article by Sergey Melkov and Oleg Zabuzov under the "Realities" rubric:
"Initiative Online and Offline. Virtual Wars and Real Problems"
67) US, UK Groups Assail Anti-DPRK 'War Maneuvers'
KCNA headline: "Anti-DPRK War Moves Assailed"
68) Iran gas exports to Bahrain still on - envoy
69) FYI -- Iranian Al-Alam TV Views US Threat To Attack Iran
70) Xinhua 'Roundup': Abbas Rejects U.S. Request To Set Date for Direct
Talks Without Reference
Xinhua "Roundup" by Saud Abu Ramadan: "Abbas Rejects U.S. Request To Set
Date for Direct Talks Without Reference"
71) Sison: Lebanon's Prosperity Driven by Private Sector
"Sison: Lebanon's Prosperity Driven by Private Sector" -- The Daily Star
Headline
72) Indonesian FM Says DPRK Ready To Rejoin Six-Party Talks on Basis of
'Equality'
Report by Mega Putra Ratya: "Indonesian, North Korean foreign ministers
discuss crisis on Korean peninsula"
73) Indonesia Warns DPRK Over Rising Tensions; Urges Restarting Six-Party
Talks
AFP Report: "Indonesia Warns N Korea Over Rising Tensions"
74) Are We Nearing a Time When Automobiles Are Unfashionable?
"Are We Nearing a Time When Automobiles Are Unfashionable?" -- The Daily
Star Headline
75) Sanctions used as psywar against Iran - MP
76) Iran to boycott sanctions sponsors - minister
77) Einhorn Says New North Sanctions Due 'in Weeks'
78) Bringing Kim Jong Il to His Knees
79) US Sanctions Against N. Korea 'to Start in a Few Weeks'
80) US 'To Continue To Apply Pressure' on DPRK Unless It Stops
Provocations
Report by Hwang Doo-hyong: "U.S. to sanction N. Korea unless it stops
provocations, shows denuclearization commitment: State Dept."
81) New rebel leader likely to 'prove himself' with terror attacks -
Russian senator
82) Xinhua 'Interview': Ringgit Expected To Keep Gaining Value
Xinhua "Interview" by LS Soon : "Ringgit Expected To Keep Gaining Value"
83) S. Korean Economy to Grow 6.1 Pct This Year: Report
84) Unconfirmed Commentary of Alleged Car Bomb Linked to 'CIA Agent' in
Mexico City
From Reforma unattributed daily column "Main Temple"
85) Making It to The 100 Billion Won Club
86) S. Korea, U.S. to Discuss Defense Logistics Cooperation
87) US, ROK To Discuss Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing 'This Fall'
Unattibuted report: "Korea, U.S. to Discuss Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing This
Fall"
88) Why The US Is Going After Kim Jong-il's Slush Fund
89) Sifting Through Evidence Selectively
"Viewpoint" column by Harold Piper, former chief editor of the JoongAng
Daily: "Sifting Through Evidence Selectively"
90) U.S. Contacted DPRK Directly to Free American Citiz en Held: State
Dept.
Updated version: upgrading precedence and rewording subject line; By Hwang
Doo-hyong: "U.S. contacted N. Korea directly to free american citizen held
for illegal entry: state dept."
91) U.S. Contacted N. Korea Directly to Free American Citizen Held For
Illegal Entry: State Dept.
92) US Will Soon Adopt New DPRK Sanctions
Updated version: Upgrading precedence, replacing 0742 GMT version with
updates provided by source at 0832 and 0943 GMT, and providing media
behavior note and video stills. By Chang Jae-soon and Lee Haye-ah: "Envoy
says U.S. will soon adopt new sanctions on North Korea". Seoul YTN Cable
TV in Korean, a 24-hour independent cable television news network,
interrupts regular programming to provide live relay of the news
conference held by Einhorn and Glaser at the US Embassy's Information
Resource Center in Seoul, from 0711 to 0745 GMT; video stills are from YTN
Cable TV. Fo r assistance with multimedia elements, contact the OSC
Customer Center at (800) 205-8615 or oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov
93) U.S. To Soon Adopt New Financial Sanctions Against DPRK: Senior
Official
Xinhua: "U.S. To Soon Adopt New Financial Sanctions Against DPRK: Senior
Official"
94) Water Ski Shows, Aerobatics to Be Featured At World Leisure Games
95) Zamfara Governor Urges Government To Lift Ban Placed on Mining in
State
Report by Abdulkadir Badsha Mukhtar: "Zamfara Lead Poisoning: Shinkafi
Wants Ban on Mining Lifted"
96) Captured Murderer Confesses to Five Killings in Bocas del Toro
Unattributed article: "Captured Murderer Confesses to Five Killings in
Bocas del Toro"
97) U.S. Threats More Sanctions on Pyongyang
Xinhua: "U.S. Threats More Sanctions on Pyongyang"
98) Israel Makes No Obligations To U .S. for Start of Direct Talks With
Palestinians: PM
Xinhua: "Israel Makes No Obligations To U.S. for Start of Direct Talks
With Palestinians: PM"
99) China's Geely Completes Volvo Acquisition; Eyes Restoring Volvo's
Glory
Xinhua: "China's Geely Completes Volvo Acquisition; Eyes Restoring Volvo's
Glory"
100) RROE Article Slams Clinton's Remarks on South China Sea
Article by Chen Hu, Editor-In-Chief of World Military Affairs: "Muddling
the South China Sea To Fish in Troubled Waters (Wanghailou)"
101) Mutharika Says Food Shortages Issues To be History for Malawi, Zambia
in 5 years
Unattributed report: Dont Look To the West
102) Mugabe asks western nations to 'stop trying to make decisions' for
Zimbabwe
103) Zimbabwe Set To Host 2d Mining Summit Sep 2010
Unattributed report: "Zimbabwe To Host Second Mining Indaba "
104) Mugabe Asks Western Nations To 'Stop Trying' To Make Decisions for
Zimbabwe
Report by Takunda Maodza: "West Can Go To Hell, Says President"
105) Chamber of Commerce Urges Zimbabwean Businesses To Attend Los Angeles
Expo
Unattributed report: "Firms Urged To Attend LA Expo"
106) Russia, NORAD To Have Joint Air Defense Exercise
107) IMF Forecasts 4 Prcnt Economic Growth In Russia In 2010
108) Search For Umarov To Continue -- Kadyrov
109) Russian Stock Market Strides Upward on Positive News From Europe And
U.S.
110) Further SOW Reductions Impossible Without All "nuclear Club? Members
Involvement - Lavrov
111) Dollar Falls to Lowest Point on MICEX Since Mid-may, Ruble Posts
Steady Gains
112) Legally Binding "rules of The Game? Needed in Missile Defense -
Lavrov
113) GM-AVTOVAZ Extends Summer Holidays Amid Heat Wave
114) Russia Will Not Let Artyom Savelyev to Be Adopted By U.S. Parents
Again - Ombudsman

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1) Back to Top
Editorial Calls on RSA Navy To Play Containment Role in 'Pirate-Haunted'
Somalia
Editorial: "Time To Look Northward" - Mail &amp; Guardian
Monday August 2, 2010 19:22:42 GMT
(Description of Source: Johannesburg Mail &amp; Guardian in English -- A
credible and reliable weekly newspaper mainly owned by Zimbabwean
publisher Trevor Ncube's Newtrust Company Botswana Limited. It is known
for its in-depth, investigative reporting and for uncovering government
corruption cases. Its editorials tend to be critical of government
policies)
< br>Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

2) Back to Top
Xinhua 'Analysis': as Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Wages, Jordan Remains
Big Role in Making Peace
Xinhua "Analysis" by Mohammad Ghazal: "as Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Wages, Jordan Remains Big Role in Making Peace" - Xinhua
Monday August 2, 2010 21:47:50 GMT
AMMAN, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Since last week, Israeli, Palestinian and Saudi
leaders visited Amman and met with King Abdullah II of Jordan, discussing
the Middle East peace process.

The Jordanian leader met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and
discussed latest developments in the proximity talks with Israel and
efforts to create a suitable environment for reinvigorating the peace
process and resuming direct talks.Also in Amman, Abdullah II met with
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where the two sides discussed
means to make a progress in efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict based on the two-state solution.Following the two, Saudi King
Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz also came to meet with his Jordan counterpart,
while the two kings underlined the need for intensified efforts by the
international community to realize a tangible progress in the peace
process to achieve the two-state solution.These continued meetings with
parties involved in the peace process as well as the historical role and
pragmatic diplomatic stances by Jordan at the regional and international
levels make the Arab kingdom continue to play a vital role in the Israeli-
Palestinian peace process, analysts said.HISTORICAL ROLEJordan, due to its
prox imity to Israel and the occupied territories and its large population
of Palestinian refugees, has been actively involved in helping to resolve
the conflict for over two decades.The country has the longest ground
borders with Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, which enjoys
a historic role in preserving the Muslim and Christian holy sites in
Jerusalem and also received an influx of refugees since the 1948
war."Jordan is a very important country in resolving the conflict and
actively engaged with the leaders in the Arab and foreign states," Oraib
Rintawi, head of the Al Quds Center for Political Studies, told Xinhua in
an interview.He added that Jordan is a strategic ally to the United States
in the Middle East, and it also has important regional alliances.ACTIVE
ROLEJordan played a major role in realizing the Road Map, which envisions
the creation of an independent Palestinian state living side by side with
Israel in peace.Jordan was a critical and voc al player in bringing
forward a resolution in the Arab Summit in Beirut in 2002 to adopt the
Arab Peace Initiative, which offers Israel normal ties with the Arab world
in return for withdrawal from territories it occupied in 1967.The peace
overture also calls for an agreed solution to the refugee problem and the
establishment of a Palestinian state."Jordan will have a major role and
say in the final status issues. It is impossible to reach a solution
without Jordan's full engagement," said Fahed Kheetan, a political analyst
at Al Arab Al Yawm newspaper.The analyst said that resolving the conflict
is a strategic priority for Jordan, whose plans for political reform have
been delayed by the lack of a solution to the decades-long conflict.The
idea was shared by political analyst Mohammad Abu Rumman, who said the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict affects the Kingdom's strategic interests,
national security and affects the country internally and
regionally.LOOKING AHEADIn Ri ntawi's eyes, although Jordan has strategic
historic positions, it is important not to blow its role and its ability
out of proportion as it has limitations.Although Jordan has been active in
trying to solve the conflict from the beginning, its role has witnessed a
decline in recent years, mainly due to the intransigence of successive
Israeli governments and the moderate Arab camp's inability to realize
tangible progress, according to Rintawi.The country must open channels
with Hamas and Iran, a matter which will enhance its political leverage,
analysts believed.Jordan, which took the sides of the moderates "currently
cannot play any role in the inter-Palestinian reconciliation efforts as it
has no open channels with Hamas," Rintawi said, pointing out that the
Syrians, Saudis, Egyptians and Iranians also influence the course of the
conflict."Jordan does not have plan B in case the peace process fails.
Jordan does not hold enough cards in the region's political game. Jordan
should have more options by opening new channels," Abu Rumman said.He
pointed out that the role of the United States in the region has declined
and Turkey's popularity is increasing, providing an opportunity for Jordan
to rearrange its alliances.But analysts stressed that though Jordan's
basic role to the resolution of the conflict is facing obstacles, the
Kingdom has no option but to continue its mission to find a just,
comprehensive and lasting solution to the conflict."Jordan has no choice
but continue its political and diplomatic quest to resolve the conflict,"
said Abu Rumman.(Description of Source: Beijing Xinhua in English --
China's official news service for English-language audiences (New China
News Agency))

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

< /div>

3) Back to Top
Afghan Documents on WikiLeaks, FSB Documents on Lubyanskayapravda.com
Contrasted
Article by Andrey Soldatov, 02 Aug; place not given: "Leaks: American and
Russian Versions"; accessed via Yezhednevnyy Zhurnal - Yezhednevnyy
Zhurnal
Monday August 2, 2010 15:17:06 GMT
The publication of these documents is a special instance for completely
different reasons. Thousands and thousands of field reports and reports
from commanders of small army subdivisions have for the first time fallen
into the public sphere, and this has given the public and the expert
community access to that information, access to which only a limited
circle of people once had. In this case, the significance of the leak is
not just in the content of the reports and dispatches. This is a new stage
in detailing the picture we are dealing with. It is as if we have gone
from 800:600 resolution to modern monitors.

Of course, the country's political situation can also be analyzed based on
the arrangement of deerskin caps on the Mausoleum, but the analysis will
be somewhat more precise if there are documents in the public space: first
laws, then generals' orders, and now lieutenants' dispatches as well. With
each new level of detail it becomes increasingly difficult for the
military and special services to distort the picture of what is happening.
It is no longer enough to say that our subdivisions were not in the
location where civilians died for some reason; it will have to be
explained where specifically each platoon was operating on that day;
moreover, journalists will know the number and name of the commander of
each of them.

It is curious that while the Russian media were writing about the American
scandal, predicting the coalition's imminent demise, quite unremarked was
another episode bearing a direct relation to Russia -- another leak.

I am talking about the FSB (Federal Security Service) documents, moreover
much more significant ones -- orders and reports stamped top secret --
that were published at lubyanskayapravda.com this June. First of all, this
is evidently the first instance of a leak of FSB documents on the Internet
in the last 10 years or so (there was one episode when the Georgian
special services published the "tally sheet" of a local politician, but
the scan of this document looked dubious enough that it attracted almost
no attention). Moreover, if in the WikiLeaks case the authors of the
dispatches were the junior command, then included on lubyanskayapravda.com
were reports prepared by the special services' leadership, including the
top man.

If the documents on WikiLeaks clarify certain issues on the war in
Afghanistan, the key problem for the United States, then the FSB documen
ts are primarily reports from the FSB's department of Operations
Information (DOI), and simply FSB intelligence, about operations in
Ukraine, Turkmenistan, and several other former Soviet republics dating to
the mid-2000s. The documents not only clarify what exactly FSB has been
doing in these countries but even reveals the lack of coordination among
the Russian special services. For example, one of the reports talks about
a Ukrainian document forged by the FSB that was obtained by the SVR
(Foreign Intelligence Service) and reported to the Kremlin as genuine.

It is no accident that I am not quoting details from these documents. The
point is that there is one big difference between these documents and the
WikiLe aks collection. Unlike the American reports, the FSB
correspondence, although it was put out on the Internet, never did land in
the public sphere. The documents were not republished by Russian
newspapers, and the site itself was shut down a couple of weeks after the
release. The leak interested only Armenian journalists, who on their basis
rushed to accuse one of the directors of the local special services of
working for Moscow.

A paradoxical situation arose as a result. Not having fallen into the
public sphere, the FSB documents did not become the subject of discussion,
which means there was no attempt to verify their authenticity (and it is
for this reason that I do not think it proper to quote them in more
detail). There were no official inquiries made to the FSB and presidential
administration, there were no press conferences with justifications or
refutations, and journalists did not verify them based on their own
sources. Consequently, these documents cannot be quoted, and it is as if
they do not exist.

The US Senate just passed a law protecting journalists and authors
publishing in the States from lawsuits for slander in other countries
(primarily in London), and human rights activists have welcomed t his law,
partly because it guarantees the legal immunity of website owners who host
in the United States from lawsuits from countries with repressive regimes.
Certainly this is a positive step but it is hardly going to significantly
improve the situation with free speech and access to information.

At the least, this did not happen in the case of the FSB document leaks.
The website lubyanskayapravda.com was hosted in the United States, and the
domain was registered in Egypt; however, it was the inattention of the
traditional print press in Russia that kept these documents from being
introduced into the public sphere.

(Description of Source: Moscow Yezhednevnyy Zhurnal in Russian -- Daily
Internet paper providing news and commentary critical of the government;
URL: http://ej.ru/)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

4) Back to Top
Wikileaks Scandal: Daily Flays Afghanistan Accusatory Fingering at
Pakistan
Editorial: Karzai's Rant - Business Recorder Online
Monday August 2, 2010 12:12:27 GMT
EDITORIAL (August 02 2010): Addressing a press conference on Thursday, in
the wake of WikiLeaks scandal, Afghan President Hamid Karzai fulminated
against Pakistan, laying the blame for his government, and its western
allies' problems, at Pakistan's door. He said that the time had come for
our international allies to know that the war against terrorism is not in
Afghanistan's homes and villages, but in the sanctuaries, funding centres
and training places of terrorism, which are outside Afghanistan."

He went on to claim that his 'international allie s' have the ability to
destroy these sanctuaries, "but the question is, why are they not doing
it?" Indeed, the question begs an answer. Either they lack the ability or
have trust in Pakistan's efforts, despite the 'do more' refrain.

There is no denying that some Taliban groups have been seeking and
receiving sanctuary in Pakistan's tribal areas from their fellow Pashtuns,
with whom they share blood ties. However, Islamabad has deployed nearly
two hundred thousand troops in and around the tribal areas, also setting
up more than a thousand border posts to prevent cross-border activity. As
a result, far more Pakistani soldiers have died in this campaign than the
US and all ISAF casualties put together. In fact, the blow-back from
Afghanistan has had grave consequences for this state and society. It has
radicalised a large number of people, who are challenging the writ of the
state. Over 30,000 Pakistanis have either lost their lives or suffered
lifelong disabi lities in reprisal attacks for military operations in the
Taliban-infested tribal areas. The war and the resultant instability has
also wrecked this country's economy. No other country has paid such a
heavy price for supporting Karzai and his allies' campaign in Afghanistan
than Pakistan. But it cannot win the war for them.

It is an open secret that Karzai and company have lost the war against the
Taliban. They have already been talking to Taliban leaders through
intermediaries, including Pakistan, but want to negotiate from a position
of strength. The new strategy Barack Obama had introduced, after a
protracted process of discussions and fine-tuning, is not getting
anywhere. The Marjah offensive launched last February has failed.
According to General McChrystal, the commander of US forces in Afghanistan
until last month, it remains a "bleeding ulcer." The much-hyped Kandahar
offensive has been put on hold. The US wants Pakistan to assist both by
putting pre ssure on the Taliban from its side of the border and also in
negotiating the war's end. This is a complicated affair Pakistan cannot
both be fighting and talking to the Afghan Taliban, with whom, for reasons
of geography, it has to continue to deal with after the US troops'
departure. Even American officials have been acknowledging that they
understand Islamabad's interest in hedging its bets. But the US policy is
in the disarray because of the imminent defeat. The WikiLeaks episode is
symptomatic of its troubles. At a time like this, is it helpful to have
people like Karzai point their accusatory finger elsewhere, such as
Pakistan?

(Description of Source: Karachi Business Recorder Online in English --
Website of a leading business daily. The group also owns Aaj News TV; URL:
http://www.brecorder.com/)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries rega rding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

5) Back to Top
Article on Documents Leakage Says Allegations Against ISI Illogical
Article by Malik Muhammad Ashraf: The leaks by WikiLeaks - The Nation
Online
Monday August 2, 2010 11:55:09 GMT
The leakage of the classified documents concerning US war effort in
Afghanistan, at a time when the relations between US and Pakistan have
attained new strategic heights and the latter has been showing strong
commitment to the war on terror - also repeatedly acknowledged by the US
administration - unravels the most sordid aspect of the alliance. There
are elements within the US administration, who have their own agendas to
promote by fomenting an ambience of mistrust and creating doubts about the
credentials of an ally that has m ade unparalleled sacrifices in men and
material in fighting the scourge of terrorism. Although the State
Department and Pentagon have denounced the leakage of the unsifted
classified information and Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee,
Ike Skelton, dubbed the leaked information as "outdated reports" and
warned against judging Pakistan's conduct on the basis of these
revelations but that is not enough in view of the seriousness of the
allegations hurled at the ISI, the most prestigious intelligence outfit of
Pakistan, which is making a great contribution to the fulfilment of the
objectives of global war on terror. The US administration needs to put its
house in order to scuttle the chances of such indiscretions by the
elements within its ranks that have the potential of undermining the
Pak-US collaboration.

The war on terror has entered a very crucial stage and Pakistan occupies a
pivotal position in furthering this effort, particularly in bringing
stability to Afghanistan. Such unsubstantiated indictments of the
Pakistani intelligence agency also generate anti-US reaction among
Pakistani people, besides causing embarrassment to the government for its
partnership with a country that does not even trust its ally.

Pakistan has exhibited unfaltering commitment to the cause of war on
terrorism and taken an unambiguous stance on the issue. Its Parliament has
also unanimously adopted a resolution to quell extremism. Its army has
successfully uprooted terrorists from their strongholds in Swat, Malakand
and South Waziristan and conducted several operations along the Pak-Afghan
border, losing thousand of men in the process, perhaps more than NATO
casualties in Afghanistan. Thousands of civilians have fallen victims to
drone attack in the tribal region and suicide attacks in the Pakistani
cities. Pakistan's economy has also been severely jolted by the war on
terror. Why Pakistan has paid such a heavy price? To endure the
humiliation of being dubbed as a double dealer! Certainly not.

The allegations against ISI strongly belie logic. If, as alleged, ISI was
supporting Taliban against the US and NATO forces in Afghanistan then why
would the Taliban organise suicide attacks against military targets within
Pakistan, the law enforcing agencies and the innocent citizens of
Pakistan? Why would any government connive with such elements against its
own people and the interests of the country? Only fools could give
credence to the outlandish ideas and hypothesis bandied around by the
WikiLeaks.

One is familiar with US leaders sporadically repeating their rhetoric of
"do more" or some times expressing its suspicions about the presence of
Al-Qaeda and Taliban leadership in Pakistan, ostensibly for domestic
reasons, but they have officially refrained from accusing Pakistan of
supporting the Taliban against the NATO forces in Afghanistan. In the
backdrop of the leaked reports, echo es of revisiting US Afghan policy and
cooperation with Pakistan are already in the air, and the crescendo is
likely to reach the highest pitch with the western media trying to create
mountain out of a molehill, as has been the case even in the past.
However, it is hoped that such machinations and manoeuvrings will not be
allowed to impair Pak-US relations or jeopardise the global war on terror.
Both sides will stick to their avowed goal of taking the war on terror to
its logical conclusion.

The writer is a freelance columnist.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The Nation Online in English -- Website
of a conservative daily, part of the Nawa-i-Waqt publishing group.
Circulation around 20,000; URL: http://www.nation.com.pk)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

< br>6) Back to Top
Article Backs Governments Move To Give Extension to Army Chief
Article by Khalid Iqbal: The continuity factor! - The Nation Online
Monday August 2, 2010 11:55:14 GMT
The extension in the service tenure of General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has
attracted interesting comments by the domestic and foreign media alike.
The issue of granting him extension has been one of the hot topics over
the last couple of months, as he was scheduled to step down in November
this year. There was indeed a nationwide consensus that he should continue
at the helm of military affairs to provide continuity to the ongoing
military operations in many parts of the country. However, difference of
opinion was in the context of methodology, that is whether he should
continue as COAS or be elevated to the appointment of Chief of Defence
Staff under a revamped Higher Defence Organisation.

The continuity factor in the command appointment is absolutely critical to
the war, especially when it is in terminal stage; it has traditionally
been a strong argument for extending the services of a commander. A
parallel in this regard is the continuation of Admiral Mike Mullen and
Secretary Robert Gates in their appointments of CJSC and Defence
Secretary, despite the change of government from the Republicans to the
Democrats. Nevertheless, changing horses midstream does not make sense.

General Kayani did not express keenness for extension, nor did he put in a
request for it. Moreover, he had taken all his Corps Commanders and PSOs
into confidence before accepting the offer. However, the way the extension
was announced, as well as its timing, has added a bit of mystery to it.
The occasion did not call for the Prime Minister's address to the nation.
Likewise, a deliberate effort should ha ve been made to keep a decent gap
between the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the
announcement of extension.

While the media had disclosed earlier that two-year extension had been
agreed to, everyone was taken by surprise when a three-year extension was
announced. Subsequently, an unfortunate comment by the Prime Minister that
after this decision Pakistan's four major "stakeholders" - the President,
Prime Minister, Army Chief and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court - are in
a "secure position" till 2013, gave vent to the view of conspiracy
theorists who were quick to portray that a deal has been struck between
Kayani and the PPP leadership to protect each others' interests till 2013.
Nevertheless, discretion in managing a simple event could have ensured
that the issue remains non-controversial.

General Kayani's extended tenure is an unenviable assignment. He is not
poised to sleep on a bed of roses. He is not the one who is commanding an
army during peacetime. Undoubtedly, he would be perpetually exposed to the
circumstances detrimental to his personal safety. His tasks would require
field visits to war zones. Under these circumstances, most would have
opted to call it a day and lead a quiet retired life, especially when his
popularity is at its peak and he had earned the admiration of all.

Acceptance of the extension entails a significant pressure to his family
as well; who would have been much happier to see him relaxing into golf.

When required General Kayani took hard decisions in greater national
interest which, at times, did not please the national political leadership
or Washington. Soon after assumption of command, he called back all army
officers serving in civil departments. His decision was resented by the
affected officers but appreciated by the civil society. He prohibited all
his under command personnel from meeting politicians and forbade agencies
from meddling in the elections.

He then concentrated on professional training of the army and in a short
span of time brought about significant improvements in the well being of a
common soldier. His welfare measures went a long way in elevating the
morale of personnel. He developed special rapport with the PAF. As a
result, relations between the army and the PAF warmed up in an
unprecedented manner. These initiatives he lped synergise the national
effort towards counter terrorism. Hence, army backed by the PAF achieved
brilliant victories in Swat, South Waziristan, Bajaur and virtually broke
the myth of TTP.

His domestic popularity was at peak when he issued a strong statement
against drone attacks and likely physical intervention of the US troops in
Pakistan. His rating skyrocketed when he took a firm stand against
humiliating bindings embedded in the infamous Kerry-Lugar Bill. His
pragmatic role in the restoration of the judiciary is duly acknowledged by
a common Pakistani. Internationally, he shot into prominence after his
interaction with the US and NATO senior military officers at the NATO HQ
in Brussels, earlier this year, where he gave his visionary concepts to
end the Afghan imbroglio in a face-saving manner.

Kayani's role in the strategic dialogue in Washington DC is another event
to recall. The tone he had spelled out for this dialogue process has
translated into meaningful results. Today, the process of strategic
dialogue stands duly institutionalised and structured in the form of a
sectoral approach, whereby all important issues fall within the ambit of
thirteen sectors.

In a befitting refutation of the Indian Army Chief's indication of
projected readiness with the Cold Start doctrine, Kayani launched Exercise
Azm-i-Nau III to demonstrate the 'Hot Stop Capability' to indicate that
while we have a transitional military commitment on our western side,
Pakistan's military has not lost focus of its perennial obligation towar
ds the eastern threat. This was indeed a display of dual-role capability
of the armed forces of Pakistan - a capacity that enables it to take on a
two-front threat as and when it emerges.

The extension indicates that the military prong of strategy towards
Afghanistan is likely to continue for some time. Pakistan also has a
significant role to play in the political process of reconciliation in
Afghanistan. Hope that herding Taliban to the negotiation table can solely
be done by outsourcing the political prong to erratic President Hamid
Karzai is indeed an oversimplification. Due to his earlier stint as
Director General ISI, General Kayani is poised to play a critical role in
Afghanistan's ongoing process of national reconciliation and
reintegration.

General Kayani is widely regarded as a quiet, professional soldier with a
measured response. He has helped transform the army in his tenure. Besides
being a largely conventional force suited to structure interstate w
arfare, it is also effectively fighting an irregular war inside its own
borders. His new tenure gives him a rare opportunity to continue the
transformation of Pakistan army into a professional body, ready to fight
insurgencies and conventional enemies equally well.

The writer is a retired air commodore of the Pakistan Air Force.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The Nation Online in English -- Website
of a conservative daily, part of the Nawa-i-Waqt publishing group.
Circulation around 20,000; URL: http://www.nation.com.pk)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

7) Back to Top
Article Seeks New Security Doctrine To Counter Wests Criticism Against
Pakistan
Article by Ahme d Quraishi: Mice into lions - The News Online
Monday August 2, 2010 11:44:56 GMT
The anti-Pakistan statements of the British prime minister and the series
of statements by other friends of Pakistan, like Adm Mullen, show there is
something wrong in the way we in Pakistan are managing our friendships.
Obviously the Pakistani style - or weakness - is turning mice into lions.

Our political and military officials have been patting themselves on the
back recently counting their foreign policy successes. Here is a tally:
Pakistan has been courting Mr Karzai. He wants the world to invade
Pakistan. Adm Mullen, who has met our army chief more than two dozen times
over 18 months, wants the ISI neutered and thinks it is kosher to ask us
to 'shift our strategic focus'. (Why doesn't he send trainers to our
parliament and GHQ and teach us the best ways to become a full-fledged
client state?) . The new British prime minister believes he can get his
hands on Indian money by indulging in Pakistan-bashing on Indian soil and
still see the Pakistani president in London next week as if nothing
happened.

One thing common to all of these Pakistan-bashers is that they know that
Pakistani officials will be back clarifying and justifying and promising
to be good boys again.

After the WikiLeaks when it was clear that the mainstream US media
maliciously shifted focus from US failures to bashing Pakistan, our envoy
in Washington refused to condemn this and instead harped on how
'irresponsible' this leak is (as if someone leaked Pakistani secrets) and
that 'ground realities' are different now, implying that Pakistan has been
bad before but things are different now thanks to his government.

In March, and thanks mainly to our military establishment taking a stand
on a number of issues, we had a God-given chance to review the terms of
our lopsided relationship with the United States in Afghanistan. What did
we do? Instead of telling our American friends to start respecting
Pakistani interests and compensate for our inordinate strategic
concessions and economic losses, we entered into a strategic dialogue
asking the Americans to take charge of our energy, economy and development
problems. When Mrs Clinton came here recently throwing crumbs and refusing
to help on any major issue, we hailed that as success.

Had Islamabad taken a stand on Mrs Clinton's provocative statement in June
warning of retaliation against Pakistan after the Times Square bombing
attempt, by refusing to receive her in the Pakistani capital or delaying
one of those 'sectoral' chitchats that pass for a strategic dialogue
between junior Pakistani and American officials, then maybe the British
prime minister would have thought twice before his anti-Pakistan
diatribes.

On the Brits, let's also learn a lesson from the Egyptians if not the
Saudis. Britai n has been the biggest exporter of religious extremism over
the past three decades. Hosni Mubarak's Egypt and Riyadh had the guts to
say this publicly. London made it a policy to grant asylum to every
religious lunatic from across the globe. For three decades, the most
extremist religious theories were not born in Saudi Arabia, Egypt or
Pakistan but festered like a disease on British soil.

British spy agencies have been using these extremists as a tool to
continue their quiet meddling in Mideast politics. This is no secret. So
when the British prime minister accuses Pakistan of exporting terror, we
can respond. We can tell him his statement is a cover for attacking
Pakistan's right to be concerned about the situation in Afghanistan and
Indian-occupied Kashmir. We can tell him his country should end the
sanctuaries of extremism on British soil that have official British
sanction and cover. And that England must stop exporting extremism and
extremist theories to our reg ion.

And what is the Pakistani bottom line? Washington and even its puppets in
Kabul have a bottom line. Let's articulate clearly our national security
doctrine and let's be bold. Afghan soil has been used by In dia and other
powers to export terror into Pakistan decades ago and we will ensure it
doesn't happen again. India invaded Pakistan without provocation in 1971
and we are within our rights to suspect Indian intentions until proven
otherwise.

We are apologetic when it comes to defending our interest. We also tie up
our hands by electing people into power whose careers, lives and bank
accounts are in London, New York and Boston. Expecting them to answer the
British premier or Mr Mullen in the same coin is asking too much.

The writer works for Geo TV.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage o f domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

8) Back to Top
India Starts Giving Deceiving Color to Kashmiris Movement to Malign
Pakistan
Report by Muhammad Saleh Zaafir: India initiates fresh anti-Pakistan
drive in IHK - The News Online
Monday August 2, 2010 11:33:42 GMT
Islamabad: The Indians have officially initiated a fresh mudslinging
campaign against Pakistan by giving deceiving colour to the peaceful
movement of Kashmiri people and perpetrating the worst human rights
violations in the occupied areas in the wake of recently concluded visit
of British Prime Minister David Cameron to India.

His reckless remarks have encouraged India to take on Pakistan. The former
British foreign secretary and an expert on international affairs David
Milliband has characterized his Premier as 'foul-mouth' after his
loathsome remarks about Pakistan. It is heartening that Prime Minister
Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani reminded his British counterpart while addressing a
public meeting in Sargodha in the heart of Punjab on Saturday that it
could have been pleasing Pakistan if the British prime minister talked
about the human rights violations in occupied Kashmir while he was on the
soil of India. Such assertions would have been close to justice if Kashmir
had figured in the statement of the British prime minister.

They again targetted Pakistan's national security institutions, which are
engaged in checking India's gross and criminal involvement in
disseminating terror activities in tribal areas and Balochistan adjacent
to international border with Afghanistan. Afghan president has once again
started dancing on the tunes of Indians and West to blame Pakistan. He was
expected to visit Pakistan in the outgoing week but he has to call off the
trip. He sought refuge for many years in 80's and 90's here and developed
links with the US and Western diplomats by sitting here.

The diplomatic observers are of the view that the new campaign of the
West, India and its stooge Afghan leader is not out of place. The Nato is
bound to pack up from Afghanistan after failing in its designs and in all
probabilities return journey would be started from next year. The big
country currently engaged in Afghanistan is keen to stay back invisibly
and for that it is preparing ground through the campaign that its allies
have already launched against Pakistan. They are not expecting any res
istance from the top of the political leadership in Pakistan but they are
fearful of a role from the valiant Armed Forces of this country and the
national security institutions, which have been souring the Indian eyes as
well. All the forces, which have been after Pakistan's solidarity are now
in complete synchronization to harm it by any manner. The flunkies of the
adversaries of Pakistan, which are well fitted at certain places here, are
also in joining hands with their foreign masters, the observers viewed.

In the meanwhile India's notorious terror sponsoring-cum-intelligence
gathering outfit Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) after failing in
suppressing nonviolent campaign of Kashmiri people for their freedom in
occupied territory has initiated a campaign to malign the struggle.

Interestingly Indian Army Chief and puppet chief minister of the occupied
parts of the state have already conceded that no so-called infiltration is
taking place from across the line of control (LOC). They have made the
statement repeatedly and Pakistan's foreign minister in his remarks last
month has made it clear that Pakistan would treat infiltration as
terrorism. With this irresponsible comment he has conceded that freedom
fighters are 'infiltrators.'

The sources pointed out that RAW's mouthpiece online wire service has
reported Saturday that "Violence in Kashmir is back and the Indian
Intelligence Bureau's (IB) inputs suggest that external forces are once
again fuelling the violence and that they have no plans of backing down.
But this time, there's a change in the modus operandi. The ISI has
specifically instructed the terror groups to target the security personnel
by provoking them in the garb of stone-palters so they open fire on
innocent civilians."

Sources in the Intelligence Bureau told the so-called wire service that as
per t heir intercepts, the ISI has specifically told groups such as the
Laskhar to step up violence so that the attention of the world turns to
Kashmir. There has been a lot of international pressure on these groups of
late, and the recent WikiLeaks exposes have linked the ISI with terrorism.
The IB says Kashmir is like a safe house for the ISI and whenever it finds
itself on the back foot, it uses this issue to divert attention. The ISI
feels that a large part of the international community still treats the
Kashmir issue sympathetically. The new strategy was evolved after the
Pakistan-based groups found it difficult to carry on as the sympathy
factor among locals was missing.

The IB says by provoking the security personnel into killing civilians,
they hope that the mindset of the locals change completely. Indian IB says
the ISI has a well-prepared force in place for Kashmir. The Lashkar
comprises not just Pakistani Mujahideen, but also other ethnicities, like
Arabs, Sudanese and Palestinians etc numbering 4500. Their job is to keep
infiltrating into the Valley and create confusion.

The sources here pointed out that the concocted story has been fabricated
just to malign Pakistan and its institutions since there is no reference
of any official in it and version of the Indian government is also
missing.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

9) Back to Top
EU D elegate Head Says Sri Lankan Governments War Against LTTE, Not Act
of Crime
Report by Shamindra Ferdinando: War Against LTTE not a Criminal Act Says
EU - The Island Online
Monday August 2, 2010 11:17:29 GMT
Guy Platton, Charge d'affaires of the Delegation of the European Union
says the EU never felt that it was a criminal act on the part of the Sri
Lankan government to wage war on the LTTE, though the EU always wanted to
end the fighting to pave the way for a negotiated settlement to avoid
massive loss of life in contravention of the Geneva Conventions.

Platton was responding to a query by The Island, in the wake of recent
revelation of excesses by foreign forces including US, British and Polish
troops.

The Island: "Now that classified documents relating to alleged war crimes
committed by foreign forces deployed in Afghanistan have been released, we
would like t o obtain an official comment from the EU mission in Colombo
regarding the controversy. The Sri Lankan media has every right to request
an explanation due to repeated EU calls for a war crimes inquiry targeting
Sri Lanka. We would also like to know your position on a recent statement
by Deputy British PM Nick Clegg that the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was
illegal. The EU countries have committed powerful forces to Afghanistan
and Iraq. What would you say to this?

EU official Guy Platton: "As stated by the US government, an investigation
has been opened to examine where the leak came from and also the veracity
of the documents you are referring to. As such the EU has not been accused
of any war crimes. I would like to stress that in Afghanistan, ISAF
operates there under a UN mandate, this being a legitimate case of
self-defence against a third party, as Al Qaeda had been given refuge and
support by the Taliban, whom moreover we did not recognise as the
Government of Afghanistan. The argument about Iraq is similar, though
there was no common EU position there as there was disagreement at the
time (2003) as to what precisely had been sanctioned by the UNSC.

As regards the comparison with Sri Lanka, the EU has never suggested that
it was a criminal act for Sri Lanka to start a war against the LTTE,
though we had always advocated ending the fighting by a negotiated
settlement so as to avoid massive loss of civilian life, in contravention
of the Geneva Conventions. Unlike in Afghanistan, the media--and indeed,
everyone--was kept out of the combat zone in the Vanni. Indeed, we have
never accused Sri Lanka of war crimes, though we have supported the UN's
efforts through independent investigation to shed more light on what had
happened. We fear that without more clarity, it would not be possible to
facilitate reconciliation."

On the statement of Deputy British PM Clegg, I have to refer you to the
British High Commission in Co lombo since, as I mentioned above, there is
no common EU position on Iraq."

The Sri Lankan government said that nothing could be as regrettable as the
EU assertion that Sri Lanka started the war. Had the EU perused a
statement issued by the Nordic truce monitoring mission issued immediately
after the outbreak of large scale hostilities in the second week of August
2006.

Dismissing LTTE claims the Sri Lanka Army had triggered the Jaffna battle,
the mission (Maj. Gen (redt) Ulf Henricsson) said that "...considering the
preparation level of the operations it seems to have been a well prepared
LTTE initiative,"

The then Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, MP told the Colombo-based
diplomatic corps early September 2006 that any military aggression on
their part would entail military costs to them.

The Defence Ministry pointed out that during the period February 22, 2002
to September 17, 2006, the truce monitoring mission had faulted th e
government on 276 occasions, whereas the LTTE was faulted on 4,176
occasions. But the Norwegian facilitators and co-chairs to the Sri Lankan
peace process turned a blind eye to LTTE aggression. The mission
categorised the harassment of civilians (83 incidents) as the most
frequent violation by the government and 17 hostile acts agai nst
civilians, whereas the mission ruled 1,860 cases of child recruitment, 696
abductions of adults, 225 abductions of children, 81 hostile acts against
civilians, 33 cases of forced recruitment of adults, 81 assassinations and
36 incidents relating to restrictions on the movement of truce monitors.

The mission blamed the government for 14 killings and 18 cases of
abductions.

The EU suspension of the GSP plus facility given to Sri Lanka will come
into operation on August 15. The EU decision was taken after the
government refused to give a written guarantee to the EU promising to
implement 15 conditions, which included the implemen tation of the 17th
Amendment to the Constitution and removal of emergency regulations.

(Description of Source: Colombo The Island Online in English -- Website of
the independent daily published by Upali Newspapers Ltd. The paper, which
has a circulation of 30,000 for the daily edition and daily and 140,125 on
Sundays, provides a balanced view of political affairs and wide coverage
of defense, financial, and business matters; URL: www.island.lk)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
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10) Back to Top
Editorial Urges Rulers To Restore Confidence Through Transparency
Editorial: "Transit Trade Agreement; Information Minister's Appreciable
Stance" - Nawa-e Waqt
Monday August 2, 2010 09:55:10 GMT
Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira clarified that India would not be granted the
facility of transit trade until the resolution of Kashmir issue. Only the
minutes of Pakistan-Afghanistan Transit Agreement have been signed, the
agreement has not been entered into yet. The cabinet would give its
approval.

What does Federal Trade Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim's announcement that
he made on the occasion of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's recent
visit to Pakistan, and the baffled statements that he made thereafter; and
standing of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton behind the Afghan
official when this Transit Agreement was being signed, mean?

Qamar Zaman Kaira should respond to the question that what that agreement
was actually all about? Was that not the US dictation? If India and
Afghanistan want to conduct trade, they should do it through some other
mean. The stance of Qamar Zaman Kaira that India would not be allowed
transit trade facility until the resolution to the Kashmir issue is
appreciable. However, what were the clauses of the agreement, which was
signed in the presence of Hillary Clinton and if it is not an agreement,
why is India and the United States declaring it to be their major
achievement.

The United States is by all means trying to impose India's dominance over
Pakistan, and the incumbent rulers, for reasons unknown, are executing all
orders of the United States. After seeing them flattering the US rulers,
the Pakistani people can feel that the agreement that has been struck with
Afghanistan would silently be approved in the cabinet meeting and the
Pakistani people would be left watching this all helplessly.

Therefore, the rulers should present this agreement in the next National
Assembly and senate session, and for people's awareness, the agreement
with all its contents should be published in newspapers. Members of
Senate, National and Provincial Assemblies should also wake up from
slumber in this context, so that people can know why the US secretary of
state was so anxious for signing of this agreement?

The relation of trust between people and the government is weakening day
by day. Democracy is the name of public trust on the government, but where
is that trust? The rulers should pay more attention to this aspect.

(Description of Source: Rawalpindi Nawa-e Waqt in Urdu -- Privately owned,
widely read, conservative Islamic daily, with circulation around 125,000.
Harshly critical of the US and India.)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

11) Back to Top
Is It Goodbye, America?
"Is It Goodbye, America?" -- NOW Lebanon Headline - NOW Lebanon
Monday August 2, 2010 08:39:58 GMT
The Arab world might want to watch what happens now that WikiLeaks , an

organization devoted to posting leaked sensitive documents online, has
releasedsecret American military field reports from the war in
Afghanistan. What hasresonated most is information that Pakistan, the
United States purported allyin the war, has been coordinating with the
Taliban frequently against theAmericans.Why should this matter to the
Arabs? Because the single most destabilizingdevelopment in the Middle East
during the past year and a half has been theAmerican drawdown in Iraq -
one that is even more psychological than politicaland military. And to
witness a replication of this in Afghanistan due todeclining support for
the war, which the information provided by WikiLeak s canonly exacerbate,
would have a significant impact on the broader region.Thats not to suggest
that Washington should maintain its forces indefinitely inIraq, and the
withdrawal that must be completed by the end of this month willstill leave
behind up to 50,000 military personnel. But the United States
underPresident Barack Obama has revised its ambitions in the region,
downwards. Theadministration has many objectives, but also no clear
strategy binding thesetogether. Its minimalism in Iraq has created a
vacuum, one the Arab states andIran are competing to fill. The end result
will define the Gulf region, andbeyond, for years to come, yet the
unavoidable conclusion is that the Americansare not proactively shaping
this process.Which leads us to Afghanistan. There, too, an ill-thought-out
American retreatwill have grave regional consequences. The Obama
administration is losingconfidence in its Afghan venture, which is hardly
surprising, and the moral ofthe story as provided by WikiLeaks shows why:
The Americans simply cannot winthe conflict if Pakistan is working against
them, in its own bid to bring muchof Afghanistan once again under
Islamabads thumb.This week, David Ignatius of the Washington Post examined
the WikiLeaks affair,writing that it "has been damaging partly because it
came at a time when theWashington mood about Afghanistan was darkening ...
... White House officials talkthese days about seeking an 'acceptable
endstate in Afghanistan, rather thanvictory."And what does this endstate
entail? "(A) patchwork process that brings greatersecurity through a
stronger Afghan national army and police, plus the triballybased 'local
police. The crucial driver will be a political process ofreconciliation,
brokered partly by Pakistan."For those who followed the twists and turns
of American thinking on Iraq in theaftermath of the 2003 invasion, this
will sound familiar. At the time, the Bushadministration also found itself
adr ift in the face of a stubborn insurgency,and imagined that the
solution lay in building up the Iraqi army and policeforce. Like Obamas
team today, it considered that American salvation in Iraqmight require
ceding more room to the countrys neighbors to pacify thesituation, an
approach notably expressed in the Iraq Study Group report.To his credit,
President George W. Bush was never convinced by this rationale,perhaps
because he realized that the neighbors were the ones most responsiblefor
Iraqs travails. It was always unlikely that they would reach an
agreementthat could be to the benefit of the Iraqis. This truth now
applies just as wellto the Afghans. Pakistan, like overbearing
geographical neighbors anywhere,holds the keys to some problems in
Afghanistan; but because of the enmity itelicits among neighborhood
rivals, not to say among powerful Afghan ethnicgroups, Islamabad cannot
possibly impose order on its own.Washington seems blithely unaware of what
is going on. For ma ny officials inthe American capital, talk of a United
States in retreat is absurd. The Obamaadministration is involved in
Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, you will hearthem say; it remains a
player in Iraq, and is working harder than ever tocontain Iran. That may
be true, but is also misleading. Talks between thePalestinians and
Israelis are going nowhere, and the administration will avoidredoubling
its efforts if failure becomes inevitable. In Iraq, the Americanshave been
largely invisible during the government-formation process.As for Iran, its
true that Washington has tightened sanctions on the regime, inconjunction
with its European allies. However, the primary motive, and
quiteunderstandably, has been to avoid being drawn into a military
conflict withTehran. In other words, the administration is doing its best
to more fullyavoid the regions tribulations, once again interpreting its
political mandatein a modest way.Some, of course, may welcome this.
However, thats not t he point. The broaderMiddle East has been accustomed
to the reality of American power for sixdecades, creating some sort of
political balance, albeit at times adebilitating one. When Washington
doesnt fulfill its role a free-for-allensues. We should brace ourselves
for more modesty from Washington, and theheadaches that will accompany
it.Michael Young is opinion editor of the Daily Star newspaper in Beirut.
Hisbook, The Ghosts of Martyrs Square: An Eyewitness Account of Lebanons
LifeStruggle (Simon &amp; Schuster), was recently published.(Description
of Source: Beirut NOW Lebanon in English -- A privately-funded pro-14
March coalition, anti-Syria news website; URL: www.nowlebanon.com)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

12) Back to Top
Germany Contributed Names to Afghanistan 'Capture or Kill' List
Unattributed report: "Hit List Made in Germany" - Der Spiegel (Electronic
Edition)
Monday August 2, 2010 08:32:16 GMT
But in Room 04/100, in the Defense Ministry called simply the Submarine,
the representatives from the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee heard
more than ever before in this isolated, soundproof, windowless location.
After a brief introduction by Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Chief
of Staff Volker Wieker presented an illustrated report, and after the
first pages it was already clear to the Parliament members they were
attending a first. This time it was not about supposed progress in
reconstruction; this time, they received at least a small insight into the
most secret aspects of the war in the Hindu Kush: the ominous enemies list
of NATO and the "operations of US special units" in the Bundeswehr's area
of responsibility.

Sensitive terrain, previously a "no-go area" for German Parliament
members. In this country, even among Parliament members until this June
morning it was mainly rumors that had surrounded the so-called Joint
Prioritized Effects List (JPEL) for Afghanistan. But now Wieker explained
on a simple Bundeswehr diagram how the Germans too "nominate" candidates
for the "capture or kill" list in several steps. How Germany too supplies
the JPEL, the hunting list of target persons classified by importance on
which up to 3,000 Taliban, Al-Qa'ida fighters and drug dealers are listed
who are to be either captured or, if necessary, killed.

JPEL, capture or kill. Task Force 373: Since the Internet platform
WikiLeaks published over 75,000 secret US transcripts, since Spiegel, the
Guardian, and The New York Times viewed and processed the material t he
world has known what hides behind such abbreviations and word mouthfuls.
It knows more precisely than ever that the allies in the war in
Afghanistan produce hit lists that American elite units in particular then
work their way through.

And war-weary Germany now also knows that at least 13 times German offices
have put names on this list. Thirteen names on this list means 13
potential death sentences, since even if the Germans mark their candidates
only with a C (C for capture, not K for kill) in reality a place on the
JPEL authorizes all ISAF troops to shoot the candidates, for example in an
escape attempt during an action. In other words, even though its own elite
troops do not go beyond taking prisoners in fact Germany clears candidates
to be shot by others in its area of responsibility in northern
Afghanistan.

The public reactions to WikiLeaks were enormous, worldwide and here at
home. Washington fluctuated between feigned indifference and alarmism. The
U S president's national security adviser, James Jones, saw not only the
lives of US soldiers endangered by the monstrous data leak but also
national security. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates wants to have the
leak source looked for "aggressively." The FBI has been called in. The
Washington Post felt the documents illustrate how "useless" and tragically
"wasteful" it is "to send even more young men and women to Afghanistan to
fight and die." The Spanish paper El Pais declared the war in Afghanistan
simply "failed."

In Germany as well, no one missed the WikiLeaks scoop. "The papers have
the potential to destroy the last hope for a military and political
success in Afghanistan," Sueddeutsche Zeitung observed. Die Welt wrote of
the "disclosure of impotence."

In eerie contrast to th is stands the first reaction of not only the
German Government but large segments of the political class. "Not hing new
in terms of news value," a Defense Ministry spokesperson noted immediately
after the disclosure, as if he and the ministry had already been able to
view the immense material in a few hours. Informed Parliament members and
journalists had known all of it, his boss, Defense Minister Guttenberg,
asserted shortly afterward, at any rate if the Parliament subject matter
experts in the committees and briefings had paid proper attention. A
transparent but not unsuccessful tactic, since a sort of competition over
knowledge promptly set in among the people thus provoked. "That is not our
business!", FDP (Free Democratic Party) defense expert Elke Hoff said at
the end of her statements as to whether details about the secret killer
commando units of the allies in Afghanistan could be expected from the
government.

But all the efforts to calm the situation change nothing about one fact:
that the war in Afghanistan has now acquired a new political dimension.
That was the case when the German Government finally brought itself to
talk about "warlike circumstances." That was the case when German Colonel
Georg Klein on 4 September 2009 gave the order to bomb two stranded tanker
trucks and thereby caused the deaths of up to 142 Afghan civilians. And it
is now the case as it becomes clear that German elite soldiers, like those
of Task Force 47, did not shy from deliberately killing people. But that
its counterpart, the American elite unit Task Force 373 (today called Task
Force 3-10) assumes the dirty work and works through hunting lists also in
the Bundeswehr's territory and using German information: For most Germans
that is new, and their common sense tells them it also is very much their
business.

Good questions are being raised, legal and political: How can elite US
soldiers so easily fly into the German sector and there deliberately track
down and shoot people contrary to the self-imposed German restraint? And:
H ow did these lists come about with German participation?

First Regional Command North, led by a German, must propose a candidate
based on evidence. In Germany the request goes to the mission leadership
command in Potsdam, is examined there, and goes to the Defense Ministry.
After a positive decision the request goes back to Afghanistan, where the
senior commander of the ISAF troops must still give the green light:
precise German bureaucracy that can have far-reaching consequences for the
people concerned in Afghanistan.

There are a total of six lists, on which the names of the offenders are
exchanged. JPEL, which the Germans help prepare, is the NATO list. But
Task Force 373 does not operate on the NATO ticket. It gets its orders
directly from the Pentagon. The German Government keeps silent about
whether the names collected there come from the NATO list, but does not
rule it out.

For 13 Afghans, the German nomination verifiably had drastic effects. Acco
rding to a briefing of the Parliament members, the Bundeswehr put that
many men on the list. Senior German officers even say that names "in the
double- to triple-digit range" were provided. In 2007 the Bundeswehr
designated two Taliban commanders with the case numbers 74 and 77, but by
2009 both Mullah Rustam and Qari Jabar were deleted for lack of evidence.
A year later three more were added, two of whom are in detention. In 2009
four enemies of the Bundeswehr were included, in 2010 another four.

By NATO standards the Germans were rather hesitant. In all, seven Taliban
commanders identified by the Bundeswehr are still on the JPEL for the
north, including Maulawi Shamsuddin, a notorious top strategist of the
insurgents in Kunduz, and Abdul Rahman, the head of the Taliban group that
on 3 September had the tanker trucks hijacked that were later bombed by
Colonel Klein.

But the Germans are not the only ones who nominate candidates for the hit
list for Re gional Command Nor th. In June there were 31 other targets on
the JPEL that had been included by other allies.

Does all this happen legally? Three years ago already a legal expert of
the Defense Ministry addressed the question. In his eight-page report of 6
June 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Hausmann writes under the heading Targeting:
"In my view, with respect to targeting there is no clear instruction as to
whether and to what extent Germany can participate in the targeting
procedure." This is "problematic" because the further procedure "cannot be
readily reconciled" with the "national caveats," meaning the German
restraint.

Since then some things have changed. The German Government describes the
mission as a non-international armed conflict, put simply: war. And most
international law experts who have stated a position in the last few days
see no necessary problem in terms of international law.

But a political proble m remains. First of all, no one from the government
has clearly explained the German role. And second, while it may be
possible on paper to cleanly draw the boundary line between C as in
Capture and K as in Kill, in the field these limits quickly become fluid.

As in the case of Qari Bashir, about whom much is unclear but one thing is
certain: Even if the Taliban commander, since 2009 having JPEL serial
number 2117, was only supposed to be arrested, the man nominated by the
Germans has been dead since 4 November 2009.

How did that happen? First of all, a major of the US special forces in
Mazar-i-Sharif had presented to German General Juergen Setzer his plans
for a large operation northwest of Kunduz. In the presentation of the
plans already, he also showed Setzer pictures of the "targets," the target
people, including a likeness of Bashir. The German officers became queasy.
They declined participation in the operation by German forces since the
plan fo r the mission smelled too much like targeted killing of top
Taliban members. The fighting ultimately lasted five days with heavy
bombing. Besides Qari Bashir some 130 people lost their lives, according
to the US Army all of them Taliban.

The death of the 35-year-old commander, who had some 50 fighters under him
in the area east of Kunduz and ordered several ambushes of the Germans,
proves that someone who identifies candidates in fact clears them to be
shot.

Such information makes this war vivid for the first time. So far there
have been mainly silence and a fog of hunches. There was a sort of
information chain of insiders in the government, Parliament members
somewhat in the know, clearly less-informed members of the responsible
committees, and largely ignorant people in the Parliament at large. In
addition, even the defense minister was kept ignorant at decisive times.
The most glaring case occurred in August of last year when Task Force 373
was talked about for the first time.

On the margins of a cabinet meeting shortly before the Bundestag election
in September, Angela Merkel asked Defense Mister Franz Josef Jung what
this Task Force 373 was about. Jung shrugged his shoulders in ignorance:
He had never heard of Task Force 373.

The chancellor was angry. For weeks already an inquiry had been lying in
the Defense Ministry with then-Chief of Staff Wolfgang Schneiderhan. He
had ordered "a lengthy examination" of the inquiry of the USA. A yes
answer obviously struck the top soldier as too sensitive in the election
campaign. The targeted killing of Taliban in the Germans' area of
responsibility could have raised unpleasant questions.

Keeping the chancellor and her defense minister in the dark was a blatant
case of suppression of information, but keeping the political class
ignorant was obviously the general practice down to the level of simple
Parliament member.

They can pose questions of the gov ernment on the issue of Afghanistan, as
Greens member Hans-Christian Stroebele repeatedly does, with moderate
success in the answers he receives. Th ere is something resigned in the
way the FDP's Ms Hoff says: "They do not let themselves be controlled by
an Elke Hoff. It is not our job to monitor the special forces of other
countries."

Following the WikiLeaks publication, not all Parliament members submit to
their fate the way Hoff does. The defense policy spokesperson for the SPD
(Social Democratic Party of Germany), Rainer Arnold, considers the secrecy
surrounding special forces to be "excessive," saying it contributes
"instead to the rise of conspiracy theories." His SPD colleague Hans-Peter
Bartels goes a step further: "It is not enough to inform only the
Parliament members of the Defense Committee if they can only pass on their
secret knowledge to a limited extent," he says. "Instead, after operations
are concluded the entire Parliament should be informed."

Bartels considers "capture or kill" operations "problematic in principle,
not effective, and counterproductive: When we talk about Taliban
commanders these are often leaders at the sergeant rank who maybe have 10
to 15 men under them. These are not central generals who are being
caught." Instead, "the hatred among the Afghans grows greater because
people are also killed who should not have been."

The defense expert's misgiving proves itself in the field. The German
officers must allow themselves to be humiliated and overruled by the
Americans in their territory, and then must live with the consequences.
"Now they are setting out for work that does not actually exist here," a
German officer in Camp Marmal near Mazar-i-Sharif sighed on a spring
evening in April. From the airport taxiway at the other end of the camp
droned the engines of Black Hawk transport helicopters. "I h ave been
traveling here day and night for four months. I have never seen or heard
Task Force 373."

The minimum of 40 elite soldiers had entrenched themselves in the
northeastern edge of the camp behind concrete walls yards high and massive
metal doors. Their food was delivered to them. They moved through the camp
only under the cover of darkness. To the airport and back. There had
already been trouble between Berlin and Washington because the Germans
were upset at not even knowing when the Americans had flown into their
sector. They simply came at some point, demanded of the Germans that the
copters be refueled by the return flight, and disappeared in the darkness.
After Berlin's intervention the German soldiers in northern Afghanistan at
least know when they must have the gas pump nozzle ready. An unfortunate
division of labor has quietly been established.

They have no influence on the operations of Task Force 373 but must keep
their head down when the T aliban want to take revenge. The lists are not
reliable either. Sometimes the Americans experience genuine surprises with
their "high-value targets," as happened last December.

According to a report from the secret files, a man suddenly turned up at a
small base of the Americans in Logar province, the "Forward Operating Base
Shank." He said he was Mullah Matin, he was on the JPEL, and he urgently
had to clear up the misunderstanding. He is no dangerous Talib, the man
swore to the soldiers, he was deliberately falsely charged and denounced
and he also knows by whom: He is in a bitter dispute with the man over a
piece of land, he told the nonplussed soldiers.

(Description of Source: Hamburg Der Spiegel (Electronic Edition) in German
-- Electronic edition of Der Spiegel, a major independent news weekly;
leans left of center; URL: http://www.spiegel.de)

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source cited. Pe rmission for use must be obtained from the copyright
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Commerce.

13) Back to Top
Press TV says Iran to respond to possible US strike, NATO fails in
Afghanistan - Press TV
Monday August 2, 2010 07:27:56 GMT
Afghanistan

Deadly Pakistani floods, British rights activists' bid to take defence
officials to court over Afghan civilian deaths, a Gaza explosion and a
Turkish pro-Kurdish party's rally against the government's plan for a
constitutional change were the top stories on Iran's state-owned
English-language Press TV in the morning of 2 August.Press TV provided a
factual report on British human rights campaigners' move to take the
country's defence officials to court over the alleged involvement of
British troo ps in the killing of Afghan civilians. "British media say the
move comes after thousands of leaked US military documents showed that
British army units were involved in the killing and wounding of Afghan
civilians," TV said.Other Press TV reports included Iran's response to a
senior US army official's remarks on the possibility of striking Iran, and
NATO's failure to establish stability and peace in Afghanistan."Washington
has resumed its war of words against Tehran, saying the military option
against Iran is not yet off the table," Press TV said in its 0600 gmt news
bulletin. It went on to quote Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the US
Joint Chiefs of Staff, as saying that the US military does have a plan to
strike Iran. "Still Mullen hopes that the US would not get to that point,"
Press TV said, adding that Mullen said "he is extremely concerned about
possible repercussions of such an attack".Press TV went on to quote
Yadollah Jav ani, the deputy commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard
Corps, who said a strike on Iran would jeopardize security in the entire
Persian Gulf and that Tehran would strongly respond to any attack.In its
0400 gmt news bulletin, Press TV said large numbers of US troops would
stay in Afghanistan after the planned July 2011 drawdown and aired remarks
by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates. "Gates also said US-led forces were
making progress in the war. This is despite July 2010 being the deadliest
month for American troops in the nearly nine-year war with nearly 70
troops killed," Press TV said.In its 0500 gmt news bulletin, Press TV
correspondent Fayez Khorshid reported from Kabul that "foreign troops have
been stationed in Afghanistan for almost nine years now but there is still
no sign of stability and peace in sight". Speaking about the Taleban, the
Press TV reporter said "their ranks have swollen and their moral is high".
Press TV carried an int erview with Afghan journalist Fazel Ghani Haqmal
who said that "unrest is rising day by day, and now it has reached the
northern parts of Afghanistan". "The main reason behind the recent upsurge
of violence is NATO's military operations," Haqmal said."Civilian deaths
by the NATO operations have greatly turned the Afghans against the
military presence of the foreign troops," the Press TV's Kabul reporter
said. "Now it seems too difficult for NATO forces to convince the Afghans
that they are here to protect them against the Taleban and
Al-Qa'idah."(Description of Source: Tehran Press TV in English -- 24-hour
English-language news channel of Iranian state-run television, officially
controlled by the office of the supreme leader)

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14) Back to Top
Xinhua 'Backgrounder': Pacific Islands Forum
Xinhua "Backgrounder": "Pacific Islands Forum" - Xinhua
Tuesday August 3, 2010 01:22:31 GMT
PORT VILA, Vanuatu, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Pacific Islands Forum leaders
will meet in Vanuatu's capital Port Vila to attend their annual gathering
scheduled on Aug. 3-6.

The theme of economic development and addressing the needs of the Pacific
island nations' most vulnerable has been set by the host nation.Trade, aid
climate change, fisheries management, security are also set to be
raised.The PIF, known until Oct. 27, 2000 as the South Pacific Forum, is a
key political and economic policy organization in the Pacific. Forum
leaders meet annually to develop collective responses to regional is
sues.The first PIF was held in 1971 in Wellington, New Zealand. The
meeting was stemmed from a desire by leaders to address common issues from
a regional perspective and to give their collective views greater weight
in the international community.The forum's membership has increased from
the original seven founding members (Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru,
New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa) to also include Micronesia, Kiribati, Niue,
Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and
Vanuatu. Fiji was suspended from the Forum in May 2009, as it failed to
meet the deadline of announcing a general election date.The PIF's agenda
is based on issues raised by members and reports from the Secretariat and
other regional organizations and committees. Decisions by the Leaders are
reached by consensus and are outlined in a Forum Communique, from which
policies are developed and a work program is prepared. The annual Forum
meetings are chaired by head of the host co untry's government, who
remains as Forum Chair until the next meeting.Since 1989, the Forum has
held Post Forum Dialogues with key Dialogue Partners (PFDP) at ministerial
level. The 14 PFDP members include Canada, China, the European Union,
France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Thailand, Britain and the United States.The Forum's
administrative arm is the PIF Secretariat, based in Suva, Fiji.The PIF
held its 40th annual leaders meeting in Cairns, Australia.(Description of
Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's official news service for
English-language audiences (New China News Agency))

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15) Back to Top
S. Korea's 2009 Exports Rank 9th-largest in World - Yonhap
Tuesday August 3, 2010 00:26:00 GMT
S Korea-export ranking

S. Korea's 2009 exports rank 9th-largest in worldSEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) --
South Korea's exports ranked ninth largest worldwide last year, three
notches up from the previous year, although the global economy suffered a
downturn, the country's trade ministry said Tuesday.The country's exports
reached US$364 billion last year, accounting for 2.9 percent of the world
total, the ministry said, citing data compiled by the World Trade
Organization (WTO).China became the world's largest exporter surpassing
Germany for the first time. China's exports amounted to $1.202 trillion,
making up for 9.6 percent of the global total.Germany followed in second
with $1.121 trillion, or 9 percent. The United States was third with
$1.057 trillion, followed by Japan with $581 billion a nd the Netherlands
with $499 billion.Meanwhile, South Korea was the world's 12th-largest
importer last year with $323 billion, according to the ministry.The U.S.
was the largest importer with $1.604 trillion, trailed by China with
$1.006 trillion, Germany with $931 billion and France with $551 billion,
the ministry said.(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in English --
Semiofficial news agency of the ROK; URL: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

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16) Back to Top
Buyers of Noga Shares May Not Make Claims Against Russian - Ministry -
Interfax
Monday August 2, 2010 14:45:41 GMT
MOSCOW. Aug 2 (Interfax) - The Russian Finance Ministry is warning
potential buyers of shares the French company Noga that any attempt to
make claims on "non-existent" Russian debt to the company will meet a
strong counter-response by the Russian authorities.The Finance Ministry
posted the warning on its website in light of the announcement that Noga
shares were being sold at open auction in Geneva to satisfy demands by the
creditors of Noga's sole shareholder - Nessim Gaon.The ministry emphasizes
that the Russian government "does not owe Noga money". Courts in New York,
France, Switzerland, and Sweden have tossed out all company claims against
Russia, the statement says. There is no legal recognition anywhere that
the Russian government is in debt to Noga.Furthermore, France has order
Noga to pay compensation for unlawful actions it took against Russian
property in France, namely the seizure at Noga's demand of assets
belonging to the Central Bank of Russia, the information agency RIA
Novosti, Roscosmos, and the state-run scientific-production rocket and
space center TsSKB-Progress. The Finance Ministry says that in the even of
any new attempts to lay claims on Russian property based on "non-existent"
debt to Noga would incur analogous sanctions.Noga initiated the litigation
in Stockholm arbitration court in 1993, claiming that Russia had failed to
honor two loan agreements concluded with the Soviet Republic of Russia in
1991 and the Russian Federation in 1992. Noga sought $1.4 billion in
damages, but Stockholm arbitration ordered Russia to pay just a fraction
of that amount. Russia appealed the ruling, and the debt attributable to
Noga was reduced to about $30 million excluding accumulated interest.In
the mid-1990s Noga ceded its creditor rights under the Stockholm ruling to
four Swiss banks. Those rights were later acquired by U.S. IPD Capital
Inc., after which they were purchased by the Russian Fina nce Ministry,
annulling the debt.In August 2008 U.S. federal court in New York rejected
all of Noga's claims against Russia, ruling that Noga has no financial
interest in the Stockholm decision and that its creditor rights had been
annulled. Noga's appeal of that ruling was rejected on September 22,
2009.Cf(Our editorial staff can be reached at
eng.editors@interfax.ru)Interfax-950040-FMKXCBAA

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holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

17) Back to Top
Hovik Abrahamyan is surprised .::. The Armenian News by A1 - A1+ Online
Monday August 2, 2010 08:37:52 GMT
Chairman of the RA National Assembly sent a lett er to NATO Parliamentary
Assembly President John Tanner. The letter is posted on the RA
Parliament's official website.

"Dear Mr. Tanner,I am addressing you in regards to a possible report on
the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, which is envisaged to be prepared for the
discussion at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Talking frankly, I am
surprised that such a step may have been taken without proper
consultations with the members of the Armenian Delegation to the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly.

As is known, currently the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process runs under the
auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen - USA, France and Russia. It
is our strong conviction that given the confidentiality, specificity and
delicacy of the negotiations, the initiatives held in formats other than
the Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, even with a good intent, preclude a great
danger of jeopardizing the negotiation process and undermining the
mediation efforts. Therefore, any initiative on t he Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict resolution requires prior consultations with the Co-Chair States
of the Minsk Group, having in view that the USA and France are both NATO
members.

The attempts of Azerbaijan to raise the Nagorno-Karabakh issue within
different international formats are aimed at advertising Azerbaijan's own
perception of the conflict resolution with disregard of the entirety of
principles proclaimed by the Co-Chairs as the basis for the conflict
resolution. It is worth mentioning that the Co-Chair countries voted
against the resolution proposed by Azerbaijan at the UN General Assembly
session in March 2008, by stating that the "resolution selectively
propagates only certain of the principles (of the conflict resolution) to
the exclusion of others".

Just a few days ago, exactly on July 17, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
France Bernard Kouchner, and Deputy Secretary of State of the United
States of America James Steinberg issued a statement where they
reconfirmed the principles and elements of the conflict resolution stated
by the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group's Co-Chair countries at the G8
Summit convened on June 26, 2010 in Muskoka. They once more stressed the
point that the mentioned principles and elements have been conceived as an
integrated whole and that any attempt to give preferences over other
principles would make it impossible to achieve a balanced solution.

With due respect to such an authoritative organization, as the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly, we consider it our duty to remind that not in the
distant past we had already experienced that the NATO PA report on
Nagorno-Karabakh had provoked selective references, unsubstantiated
interpretations, and wrong speculations. I believe that the report in no
way has contributed to the creation of a favorable environment for the
settlement process. I do not see any reason why th is new initiative may
yield a different result. It was due to the clear understanding of the
sensitivity of the issue that the Secretary General Rasmussen and other
NATO high ranking officials voiced their strong support for the efforts of
the OSCE Minsk Group on different occasions and stressed that NATO did not
have direct involvement in the issue nor did it play a role of its own in
the mediation process.

Based on these concerns, Honorable Mr. President, I would like to strongly
advise and suggest that the NATO Parliamentary Assembly refrain from
addressing the issue on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "

(Description of Source: Yerevan A1+ in English -- website of opposition
A1+ Television taken off the air by the Armenian authorities in April
2002; publishes news in brief, comments and interviews; URL: http://www.a1
plus.am/en )

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holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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18) Back to Top
Indonesia's Exports up 45 Pct in First Half This Year
Xinhua: "Indonesia's Exports up 45 Pct in First Half This Year" - Xinhua
Tuesday August 3, 2010 05:44:21 GMT
JAKARTA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's central statistic bureau (BPS)
disclosed that the country's export rose almost 45 percent in the first
half this year, thanks to a sharp increase in non-oil and gas exports,
local media reported here on Tuesday.

Exports reached 72.52 billion between January and June, up 44. 83 percent
from the same period last year.BPS data showed first half non-oil
and-gas-export increased 38. 37 percent to 59.36 billion from the same
period in 2009.Year-on-year mini ng export revenue increased 66.6 percent,
export of industrial products increased 33.45 percent, and agricultural
products increased 11.5 percent.The government expects the total exports
to expand by 15 percent this year.June exports, however, were 2.87 percent
lower than the previous month, dropping by 12.29 billion U.S. dollars from
May's 12.66 billion U.S dollars.The decrease was attributed to weak oil
and gas exports, which slid 19.74 percent from 2.37 billion U.S. dollars
in May to 1.9 billion U.S. dollars in June, the Jakarta Post
reported.Japan was still Indonesia's main export destination during the
first half this year, purchasing 10.46 billion U.S. dollars of Indonesian
products, or 12.87 percent of total exports.The United States ranked the
second with a total of 6.24 billion in purchase from Indonesia.Meanwhile,
China ranked the third at 6.05 billion U.S. dollars worth of purchases
from Indonesia in the first half, the BPS said.(Description of Source:
Beijing Xin hua in English -- China's official news service for
English-language audiences (New China News Agency))

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19) Back to Top
DPRK Cabinet Paper Views Electoral Defeat of Japan's Democratic Party
The vernacular full text of the following Minju Joson "signed commentary"
has been obtained from the KPM website and is attached in PDF format; KCNA
headline: "Minju Joson on Crushing Defeat of DPJ in Election" - KCNA
Tuesday August 3, 2010 05:39:49 GMT
(Description of Source: Pyongyang KCNA in English -- Official DPRK news
agency. URL: http://www.kcna
.co.jp)Attachments:JapanRulingPartyDefeatMJ3Aug10.pdf

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20) Back to Top
People's Daily Online: China Now Second Largest World Economy, PBOC
Official
By Liang Jun, People's Daily Online: "Central bank official: China now 2nd
largest world economy" - Renmin Ribao
Tuesday August 3, 2010 02:32:22 GMT
(Description of Source: Beijing People's Daily Online in English --
Internet-only English version of Renmin Ribao, the daily newspaper of the
CPC Central Committee. URL: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn)

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21) Back to Top
Various Countries Mark 'Korean People's War Victory Day'
KCNA headline: "Korean People's War Victory Day Marked in Different
Countries" - KCNA
Tuesday August 3, 2010 04:17:34 GMT
(Description of Source: Pyongyang KCNA in English -- Official DPRK news
agency. URL: http://www.kcna.co.jp)

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22) Back to Top
Big Media is the Message
"Viewpoint" column by Kim Sung-cheol, a professor of the School of
Journalism and Mass Media at Korea University and Translation by the
JoongAng Daily staff: "Big Media is the Message" - JoongAng Daily Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 01:22:32 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul JoongAng Daily Online in English -- Website
of English-language daily which provides English-language summaries and
full-texts of items published by the major center-right daily JoongAng
Ilbo, as well as unique reportage; distributed as an insert to the Seoul
edition of the International Herald Tribune; URL:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com)

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23) Back to Top
US Refuses To Send Envoy to Pyongyang for Release of Citizen
Xinhua: "U.S. Refuses To Send Envoy To Pyongyang for Release of Citizen" -
Xinhua
Monday August 2, 2010 23:29:23 GMT
(Description of Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's official news
service for English-language audiences (New China News Agency))

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24) Back to Top
US Opinion Split Over July's US-South Korea Military Exercises< br>Article
by Yosuke Inuzuka: "Four Days of US-South Korea Military Exercises End:
Opinion Divided on United States Response of Compromise" - Sankei Shimbun
Online
Monday August 2, 2010 21:27:10 GMT
Washington, DC--American opinion has been divided on the issue of joint
US-South Korean military exercises, conducted as part of the pressure on
North Korea. The exercises have been greatly delayed, and as a result of
showing consideration to China such as changing the area for these
exercises from the Yellow Sea to the Sea of Japan, it is uncertain just
how clear a message was sent to North Korea.

By advancing the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington
for the exercises, the United States was targeting not only North Korea
but also showing its stance on containing China at the same time. China
early on had expressed its concerns over the carrier's activities in
waters near China, but US Defense Secretary Gates rejected this, saying
"The exercises will be conducted off the South Korean coast, not the
Chinese coast."

However in the end there was pressure to compromise. The reason for this
is the fact that Chinese cooperation was deemed necessary during
discussions within the United Nations (UN) Security Council regarding the
sinking of the South Korean patrol ship by North Korea.

First, the time for implementation of the exercises, planned for June, was
delayed. Then added to this were a series of uncertain responses at every
turn, such as changing the site for conducting exercises from the Yellow
Sea to the Japan Sea due to fierce opposition from China.

Bruce Klingner, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a US
think tank, explains that the series of compromises "ended up disclosing
weaknesses rather than showing US-South Korean strengths," and is
concerned that these parti culars cannot help but result in energizing
North Korea.

There have been evaluations on the other side as well. Professor Balbina
Hwang of the National Defense University, a former senior advisor to the
Department of State's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, affirmed
the exercises by saying "The fact that the United States and South Korea
showed their joint defense capabilities and their ability to prevent
disputes on the Korean Peninsula is important," and stressed the idea that
continuing to show military superiority is tied to eliciting compromise
from China and North Korea.

However there still remains US opposition to China. This is after all due
to the fact that North Korea avoided being named in the UN Security
Council Chair's statement due to opposition from China. The United States
and South Korea have been driven to a situation where they can only try
for their own sanctions against North Korea, and according to a source on
US-China d iplomatic relations, within the United States there is a
deep-rooted feeling that "China bears a heavy responsibility for bringing
about this situation."

(Description of Source: Tokyo Sankei Shimbun Online in Japanese -- Website
of daily published by Fuji Sankei Communications Group; URL:
http://sankei.jp.msn.com)Attachments:sankei30jul-drill.pdf

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25) Back to Top
Pakistan Press Nawa-e Waqt 2 Aug 10
To request additional processing, call OSC at (800) 205-8615, (202)
338-6735; or fax (703) 613-5735. - Nawa-e Waqt
Monday August 2, 2010 15:47:30 GMT
pictures on page 1 show flames rising from government buildings, military
vehicles, aerial view of inundated homes, crops in Taunsa, and Nawaz
Sharif talking to the media persons during visit to flood-affected areas
of Nowshera. Lead Stories: Report by special correspondent: Devastations
by floods; death toll reaches 1,400; high flood at Kot Addu; more than
900,000 cusec water to pass through Taunsa Barrage

Second spell of torrential rains has started in South Waziristan, Dera
Ismail Khan, and other areas. (pp 1, 9; 1,500 words) ANN report: The US to
give $10 million for flood-affected people; two planes with 50,000
food-packs arrive at Chaklala Airbase (pp 1, 9; 200 words) INP report:
President Asif Ali Zardari should postpone visit to the United Kingdom; I
have come to assist affected people; to provide every possible facility:
Nawaz Sharif; Pakistan's sovereignty hurt by David Cameron's statement (pp
1, 9; 200 words) Report by special correspondent: We are read y for talks
with Baluchi leadership; interior minister directed to complete
investigation into Benazir Bhutto's assassination: Prime Minister Gilani
(pp 1, 9; 800 words) Report by special correspondent: Jews will have to
face grave consequences if fail to refrain: Religious scholars at dignity
of the holy Prophet conference; announcement by US church to torch the
holy Koran strongly condemned (pp 1, 9; 300 words) APP report: President
Zardari holds meeting with Abu Dhabi crown prince; views exchanged on
floods, other issues (pp 1, 9; 400 words) Report on press release: Fifteen
more boats, helicopters sought from the Army; we will not rest until full
rehabilitation of flood-affected people: Shahbaz Sharif (pp 1, 9; 600
words) Report by special correspondent: Zardari should spend expenditure
to be incurred on visit to the United Kingdom on flood-affected people:
Imran Khan (pp 1, 9; 200 words) INP report: President Zardari should not
go to London for pleasure trip: Chaudhry Sh ujaat, PML-Q (Pakistan Muslim
League-Qaid-e-Azam) leader (pp 1, 9; 200 words) INP report: Those
preventing Zardari from UK visit should first sell away their flats there:
Federal law minister, Punjab senior minister (pp 1, 8; 200 words) Report
by news agencies: We will get isolated if we insist on preventing drone
attacks: Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira (pp 1, 8; 200 words)
Report by special correspondent: We will not accept any dam or canal on
Indus River: Sindi nationalist leaders (pp 1, 9; 600 words) ANN report:
Pervez Musharraf, former military ruler, to formally announce joining
politics after Id (festival to mark the end of the Ramadan): Former
minister Chaudhry Shahbaz (pp 1, 9; 400 words) Report by special
correspondent: Balochistan; secret hand, not Baluchis, involved in
targeted killing of settlers: Talal Bugti; why Musharraf cannot be tried
if former soldiers are hanged in Bangladesh; Arms being smuggling into
Balochistan via Afghanistan (pp 1, 9; 500 word s) Report by special
correspondent: Fazlur Rehman elected unopposed Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazlur
Rehman (JUI-F) president for three-year term (pp 1, 9; 100 words) ANN
report: I am doing my job according to law; not to succumb to pressure:
Javed Leghari, Higher Education Commission (HEC) chief (pp 1, 9; 300
words) Report by Qazi Bilal: The HEC hands over record of degree
verification to standing committee (pp 1, 9; 200 words) Report by special
correspondent: We should be allowed to investigate control tower
officials: Police station Kohsar's letter (pp 1, 9; 300 words) Report by
Suhail Abdul Nasir: Final decision made to send black box of (crashed)
plane to France (pp 1, 9; 300 words) Report from monitoring desk: Orakza i
Agency; bombing on militant hideouts; 21 killed (pp 1, 9; 100 words) INP
report: Seven martyred, 150 injured in firing by the Indian forces in
Occupied (Indian-administered) Kashmir; several government buildings
torched; entire valley under curfew (pp 1, 9; 5 00 words) Online report:
Enemies have become aware of our war strategy; disclosure of secret
information terrifies us: Robert Gates (pp 1, 8; 200 words) Page 2: News
From Islamabad, Rawalpindi

Page 2 has a column besides local news and advertisements. Page 3:
National, International Reports

The page 3 contains national and international news. Column by Rafique
Dogar: What Baluchi tribal chieftain should do?

The column calls for President Zardari to cancel his visit to the United
Kingdom after the hostile statement by the British prime minister. (800
words) APP report: Afghanistan; demonstration held against killing of 45
persons in NATO attack (p 3; 100 words) Page 4: News From Islamabad's
Suburbs Column by Saeed Aasi: Eating delicious dishes, enjoying

The column discusses complaint by a Pakistan People's Party (PPP) woman
leader about top leadership. (800 words) Page 5: Business, Commerce Column
by Marwi Memon: Accidents, calamities, our preparat ions

The column discusses problems being faced by people because of floods and
government's failure to provide timely assistance to the affected people.
(1,500 words) Page 6: Reports From Districts; Continuation of Reports From
Other Pages Report by special correspondent: US mother of terrorism;
development not possible by charity of Benazir Income Support Program:
Minister Azam Swati; peace will be established in region after withdrawal
of US, NATO forces (p 6; 200 words) Interview by Salman Ghani: Cameron's
tirade; Zardari should cancel visit to the United Kingdom, Nawaz Sharif
should announce not to visit the United Kingdom until withdrawal of
statement: Lord Nazir (pp 6, 10; 500 words) Page 7: Classified Ads Page 8:
Continuation of Reports From Other Pages Page 9: Continuation of Reports
From Other Pages Page 10: Continuation of Reports From Other Pages Page
11: Sports World Page 12: National, International Reports

Three-fourth of the page 12 is covered by advertisements. Report by
special correspondent: Zardar's visit to London after statement by Cameron
uncalled-for: Ahsan Iqbal

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said that why the rulers
failed to see the people stranded in tribulation. (pp 8, 12; 300 words)
INP report: The targeted killing in Karachi; six more, including former
councilor, killed (pp 8, 12; 200 words) APP report: Coal reserves in Thar
is the third largest asset of country: Dr Samar Mubarak Mand; reserves
more than overall oil reserves of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq (pp 8, 12; 300
words) Report by special correspondent: Policies should be changed to
steer country out of crisis: Maulana Fazlur Rehman (pp 8, 12; 300 words)
Report by special correspondent: Go-slow policy enters into 9th day; 13
pilots refuse to fly; national airline suffers loss worth billions (pp 8,
12; 300 words) NNI report: Musharraf timid person; will not return to
Pakistan until 2040: PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan (pp 8, 12; 200 words) Report
by Waqar Abbasi: National Accountability Bureau starts investigation into
corruption scam in Capital Development Authority (pp 8, 12; 200 words)
Report by special correspondent: The Punjab Government becomes silent
spectator over plight of public schools (pp 8, 12; 300 words) Page 13:
Interviews, Feature Reports Report by Sajjad Tirin: Terrorism in
Balochistan; India's sec ret hand involved: Interior Minister Rehman
Malik; we have evidence that enemy providing weapons, military training to
unpatriotic elements (2,000 words) Report by Aziz Alvi : Margalla tragedy;
FIR (First Information Report) not registered so far; experts say
investigations into such incidents very difficult, arduous (800 words)
Page 14: Editorial, Lead Articles

Page 14 has editorials and articles in addition to the regular gossip
column "By the way" and regular series of Islamic teachings from the holy
Koran. It also has couplets from Allama Iqbal and Muzaffar Warsi, and a s
aying of Qaid-e-Azam. Editorial: Flood devastations, apathy of government;
government should not let its calamity-hit brethren feel lonely

The editorial discusses devastations caused by rains and floods. The
people in flood-hit areas are feeling helpless and waiting for aid. There
appears no arrangement to shift them to safer places. (1,000 words)
Editorial: Kashmir Issue...business by the United Kingdom

The editorial discusses deep regret expressed by Prime Minister Gilani
over statement of the British prime minister in India and his overlooking
of human rights abuses in Occupied Kashmir. He was on a business trip to
India and leveled absurd allegations against Pakistan to please India.
(300 words) Editorial: After finding black box; no more delay be made

The editorial demands early ascertaining of facts regarding crash of
passenger plane in the Red Zone area of Islamabad. (200 words) Editorial:
Indian movies; mischievous proposal

The editorial c riticizes the Punjab Government decision to waive off 65
percent recreational tax on the Indian and English movies. (200 words)
Article by Qamar Zaman Kaira: Who represents people (part-I) (1,200 words)
Article by Dr Hussain Ahmed Piracha: Drowning cities, sinking hearts
(1,000 words) Article by Javed Qureshi: Natural calamities, favors of
'friends' (part-I) (800 words) Page 15: Articles

Page 15 has articles on national and international issues. Article by Syed
Nasir Raza Kazmi: General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani; steadfast military
leadership (1,000 words) Article by Muhammad Rasul Dawar: The US targets,
our misperception (800 words) Article by Malik Abdur Rehman: Banta Singh,
Catholics, transit trade (600 words) Page 16: Feature Reports Magazine
report: City washed away by floods; flood torrents were so strong that
entire settlements were ruined (1,000 words)

(Description of Source: Rawalpindi Nawa-e Waqt in Urdu -- Privately owned,
widely read, conservative Islami c daily, with circulation around 125,000.
Harshly critical of the US and India)

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26) Back to Top
Turkey Still Offers Much on An Iran Deal
"Turkey Still Offers Much on An Iran Deal" -- The Daily Star Headline -
The Daily Star Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 01:27:46 GMT
Tuesday, August 03, 2010

By brokering a nuclear deal with Iran and offering to host potential
talkswith the European Union in Istanbul, Turkey has made itself even
moreindispensable to global politics, while giving the United Nations a
much-neededopportunity to save face.Despite newly imposed EU sanctions,
there is renewed optimism that talksbetween Iran and UN Security Council
members on Iran-s nuclear programmay begin soon. This comes on the heels
of a joint declaration signed by Iran,Turkey and Brazil on May 17. Under
the agreement, Iran would ship 1,200kilograms of low-enriched uranium to
Turkey in exchange for the nuclear fuelrods it needs for its medical
research reactor. In the short term, this wouldsubstantially decrease
Tehran-s stockpile of low-enriched uranium (LEU),the material that, if
enriched sufficiently, can be used to produce nuclearweapons.The UN
Security Council, however, immediately followed with a new round
ofsanctions on Iran after the United States criticized the deal for
falling shortof exchanging all of the LEU Iran possessed. But on July 26,
Iran sent a letterto the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna,
saying it was ready tonegotiate the details of exchanging 2,646 pounds of
its own 3 percent enricheduranium for 2 65 pounds of 20 percent enriched
uranium, which would virtuallyaccount for all of the known LEU stockpile
Iran is estimated to have.There are few, if any, other powers that could
have negotiated this deal withIran besides Turkey. The agreement is not
much different than a plan the UnitedNations drafted last year, which Iran
rejected. Still, some in the West havemisguidedly looked at Turkey-s
improved relations with its neighbors- especially Iran - with suspicion,
and its important to note thatIran has been just as cautious of Turkey-s
aspirations, albeit lessvocally.Recently, Farid al-Din Hadad Adel, the
journalist grandson of Iranian supremeleader Ali Khamenei, who is also
affiliated with Iran-s elites and theintelligence community, called
Turkey-s recent prominence 'a directthreat to Iran and its national
interests in the region.' He pointed outthat the most popular flag in Gaza
was Turkey-s and not Iran-s; themost popular name for newborns was Erdogan
and not Ahmadinejad; and the growingmarket share in Syria, one of Iran-s
closest allies, was being capturedby Turkish businessmen and not Iranian
businessmen. Leadership of the Islamicworld was increasingly being held by
Turkish officials and not Iranians, whilethe general public opinion on the
Arab streets was overwhelmingly pro-Turkey- despite 32 years of Iranian
efforts and billions of dollars spent toadvance the Islamic Republic-s
agenda in the region.This makes the deal a win-win for the West. Should
Turkey-s diplomaticefforts fail due to Iran-s unwillingness to cooperate,
as some predict,not only would Iran lose the only credible friend and
advocate it has, it wouldalso likely lose the support of Iran-s
traditional Arab allies. There arethose in Turkey who privately suggest
that sour relations would leave Iran,whose leaders have staked their
reputations on the nuclear deal by challengingthe world-s superpowers on
the issue, truly isolated - somethingthe West has been desiring but been
una ble to accomplish for decades.There were public statements of support
for the deal by China and Russia,though messages coming from Washington
have been mixed. Although the WhiteHouse said that the transfer of LEU
abroad would be a 'positivestep,' Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has
told Turkish ForeignMinister Ahmet Davutoglu, the architect of Turkey-s
current proactiveforeign policy, to be suspicious of any agreement which
resulted from thenuclear diplomacy. Before the deal, she also appeared
publicly skeptical ofTurkey-s efforts, complaining that Iran was likely to
continue itsnuclear program under any circumstances.It seems, however,
that the deal makes considerable progress on a number offronts. It
satisfies Iran, is based on a deal already offered by the UnitedNations,
and enables both sides a way out of a dangerous standoff.Turkey will have
to continue to make the best of its good relations with Iranto ensure
continual monitoring of Iranian nuclear activity, to main tain thegoodwill
of all sides. While neither complete nor perfect, the agreement is
aconfidence-building measure that allows the best chance for diplomacy the
worldhas had since the Iranian nuclear program became an international
issue. Someobjections may be valid, however they are far from sufficient
to nix this dealand quash the swelling positive momentum. Such opposition
misses the basis,essence, and potential of this deal.Mehmet F. Celebi is a
member of the Dean-s International Council at theUniversity of Chicago-s
Harris School of Public Policy Studies. He wrotethis commentary for THE
DAILY STAR.(Description of Source: Beirut The Daily Star Online in English
-- Website of the independent daily, The Daily Star; URL:
http://dailystar.com.lb)

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</ div>

27) Back to Top
New Kyoto Protocol Might Not Happen After 2012 - Analyst - Interfax
Monday August 2, 2010 13:29:34 GMT
MOSCOW. Aug 2 (Interfax) - Efforts to replace the Kyoto Protocol by 2012,
when it expires, might fail, Valery Salygin said, head of the
International Center of Energy Efficiency and Climate Change."In a
situation where the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, the global 'climate
deal' might not happen," he said in an interview with Interfax.One of the
reasons for that lies in U.S. domestic policy, Salygin said."Furthering
the climate dossier designated by the U.S. president (Barack Obama) among
domestic policy priorities is now almost a no-win situation," he
said.Without the U.S., China and India, and a number of other countries,
it is unfeasible to reach a l egally binding agreement, the analyst
said."To solve the climate problem, if humankind is at all capable of it,
all countries must participate in the agreement without any exceptions.
That is the main problem today," he said.kk mj(Our editorial staff can be
reached at eng.editors@interfax.ru)Interfax-950040-YSJXCBAA

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28) Back to Top
US To Adopt DPRK Sanctions in 'Next Several Weeks'
Following is source-supplied 5th lead item which recasts lead and
headline; By Chang Jae-soon and Lee Haye-ah: "(5th LD) U.S. to carry out
new sanctions on N. Korea in several weeks" - Yonhap
Monday August 2, 2010 12:17:31 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in English -- Semiofficial news
agency of the ROK; URL: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

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29) Back to Top
US Hopes New Sanctions Will Change NK
By Kim Ji-hyun: "US Hopes New Sanctions Will Change NK" - The Korea Herald
Online
Monday August 2, 2010 11:17:25 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul The Korea Herald Online in English --
Website of the generally pro-government English-language daily The Korea
Herald; URL: http://www.koreaherald.co.kr)
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30) Back to Top
RSA's Ambassador-Designate to Canada Admits to Involvement in Plagiarism
Scandal
Report by Mandy Roussouw: "New Envoy in Plagiarism Scandal" - Mail &amp;
Guardian
Monday August 2, 2010 12:18:32 GMT
(Description of Source: Johannesburg Mail &amp; Guardian in English -- A
credible and reliable weekly newspaper mainly owned by Zimbabwean
publisher Trevor Ncube's Newtrust Company Botswana Limited. It is known
for its in-depth, investigative reporting and for uncovering government
corruption cases. Its editorials tend to be critical o f government
policies)

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31) Back to Top
China Economic News in Brief: Harbin Auto Show; Jiangsu Aviation Sector;
Jiangxi Exports; Beijing Tourism Figures
Xinhua: "China Economic News in Brief: Harbin Auto Show; Jiangsu Aviation
Sector; Jiangxi Exports; Beijing Tourism Figures" - Xinhua
Monday August 2, 2010 08:46:01 GMT
BEIJING, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The following are China economic news items in
brief: INT'L AUTO SHOW OPENS IN NE CHINA CITY

Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Monday opened
its 13th international auto sho w, featuring 458 automakers from 11
countries and regions.With an exhibition space of 95,000 square meters,
the eight-day event has 637 vehicle models on display. Included are
Bentley, Porsche, Hummer, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, Cadillac, Land Rover,
Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Peugeot, Jaguar and Volkswagen.Harbin began to
hold international auto show in 1998. JIANGSU'S AVIATION SECTOR
ACCOMODATES 40 PCT MORE PASSENGERSEast China's Jiangsu Province recorded
78,000 aircraft landings and departures at its seven airports in the first
half, up 13.5 percent from the same period last year, according to the
provincial transport authorities.The province's aviation sector handled
8.12 million passengers in the six months, up 20.5 percent year on year,
as well as 147,000 tonnes of cargo and mail, up 26.6 percent.International
air transport accounted for 559,000 passengers, up 40.4 percent, and
18,000 tonnes of cargo and mail, up 15.3 percent. JIANGXI'S EXPORTS TO
EMERGING MARKETS UPE ast China's Jiangxi Province registered 8.71 billion
U.S. dollars in foreign trade in the first half, a rise of 63.4 percent
from the same period last year, according to the provincial commerce
authorities.The total included 5.13 billion U.S. dollars in export value,
up 74.7 percent, and 3.58 billion dollars in import value, up 49.6
percent.The province's exports to the top three traditional markets -- the
European Union, the United States and Hong Kong -- increased 89.3 percent,
71.3 percent and 50.8 percent, respectively.Exports to emerging markets
rose, with exports to ASEAN members up 87.5 percent, India 87.8 percent,
Iran 380 percent and Brazil 260 percent. VISITORS TO BEIJING UP 26.5 PCT
IN FIRST HALFChina's capital received 2.32 million tourists in the first
half, a rise of 26.5 percent year-on-year. The total included 1.98 million
foreign visitors, up 30.2 percent.The United States, Japan and the
Republic of Korea (ROK) accounted for 36.3 percent of the total. Visito rs
from the United States numbered 323,000, up 22.3 percent, those from Japan
numbered 266,000, up 49.2 percent, and those from the ROK, 252,000, up
45.1 percent.(Description of Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's
official news service for English-language audiences (New China News
Agency))

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32) Back to Top
UN Must Take Up Forgotten Kashmir Issue, End India Tyranny
Article by Muhammad Farooq Rehmani: Kashmiris be Heard as Kosovo - The
Frontier Post Online
Monday August 2, 2010 11:23:34 GMT
Some elements may raise eyebrows at it, but an overwhel ming majority of
the people had liked the Declaration of independence by Kosovo in February
2008. Now there is another happy development on July 22, 2010; the
International Court of Justice has issued an advisory opinion on the
following question posed to it by Serbia, "Is the Unilateral Declaration
of Independence by the Provisional Institutions of Self Government of
Kosovo in accordance with International Law?" By a 10-4 majority, the
court ruled that, because "general international law contains no
applicable prohibition of declarations of independence", Kosovo's
declaration of independence in February 2008, coordinated with and
supported by the American and most EU governments and subsequently
recognised by 69 countries, "did not violate general international law".
The clear implication is that no declarations of independence violate
international law and that all are, therefore, "legal". Based upon the
above Judgment John V. Whitbe ck, an international lawyer has strongly
advocated independence for Palestine in the "Arab News" that "in American
and EU eyes, a Kosovo declaration of independence from Serbian sovereignty
should be recognised even if Serbia does not agree. However, their (US and
EU) attitude was radically different when Palestine declared independence
from Israeli occupation on Nov. 15, 1988. Then the US and the EU countries
(which, in their own eyes, constitute the "international community", to
the exclusion of most of mankind) were conspicuously absent when over 100
countries recognised the new State of Palestine, and their non recognition
made this declaration of independence purely "symbolic" in their own eyes
and, unfortunately, in most Palestinian and other eyes as well. For the US
and the EU, any Palestinian independence, to be recognised and legally
effective, must still be directly negotiated, on a wildly unequal
bilateral basis, between the occu pying power and the occupied people --
and must be agreed to by the occupying power. For the US and the EU, the
rights and desires of a long-suffering and brutalized occupied people, as
well as international law, are irrelevant." We welcome the majority
judgment of the ICJ on the question of the unilateral Declaration of
independence by Kosovo from Serbia and also favour arguments forwarded by
John V. Whitebeck in favour of the statehood of Palestinians. We believe
that there should be no slavery or subjugation or colonisation or
occupation or brutalising of any human race in this world. According to
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Law of God people have
the right to be free and to shape their destiny according to their values
of life. Universal peace can only be achieved by being kind to humanity
all over the world without any distinction of race, religion or caste.
Here is Kashmir, the oldest unresolved dispute on the agenda of the
Security Council, with about 14 UN resolutions urging India and Pakistan
to grant the right of self-determination to the people of Jammu and
Kashmir. The Security Council had laid emphasis on the principle of
plebiscite to be applied to the disputed state to ascertain the wishes of
the inhabitants of the region on their destiny. To mean business it
nominated Gen. Nimitz as administrator to hold and supervise plebiscite in
Jammu and Kashmir. Both India and Pakistan gave assurances to the people
of Kashmir to respect their decision under the principle of referendum. In
this regard India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru said to the All
India Congress Committee on 6th July, 1951, "People seem to forget that
Kashmir is not a commodity for sale or to be bartered. It has an
individual existence and its people must be the final arbiters of their
future." Again Nehru stated on 26th June, 1952 in the Indian Parli ament:
"If, after a proper plebiscite, the people of Kashmir said: ' We do not
want to be with India', we are committed to accept that. We will accept it
though it might pain us. We will not send any army against them. We will
accept that, howeve r hurt we might feel about it, we will change the
Constitution, if necessary." On 7th Aug, 1952 he said: "I want to stress
that it is only the people of Kashmir who can decide the future of
Kashmir. It is not that we have merely said that to the United Nations and
to the people of Kashmir, it is our conviction. "I started with the
assumption that it is for the people of Kashmir to decide their own
future. We will not compel them. In that sense, the people of Kashmir are
sovereign." The then Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers--Mohamed Ali and
Pt. Nehru met in the aftermath of 1953 uprising by the Kashmiris in Delhi
and issued a Declaration to reaffirm their commitments on conducting
plebiscite in the state under the auspices of the UN organisation.
Unfortunately, India under one pretext or other did not abide by its
international commitments on Kashmir. And on the contrary enhanced its
military strength to perpetuate terror and illegal occupation, and make
draconian laws to imprison and kill Kashmiris. India's state terrorism
forced Kashmiris to launch a mass struggle against the occupation forces.
This has resulted in so much bloodshed of Kashmiris. The current uprising
is writing on the wall, which is asking India to stop hoodwinking the
world opinion as the Kashmiris are not any commodity for sale and purchase
and they will not tolerate brutalizing campaign for long. The people of
Kashmir equally do not believe in changing the nature of the Kashmir
dispute from a tripartite question to a bilateral position. Therefore, the
world body should take note of the current developments in Kashmir and
initiate measures as they did in Kosovo to resolve the issue with the help
of all the three stakeholders--the Kashmiris, Pakistan and India. The
United Natio ns, having upheld the unilateral declaration of Independence
by Kosovo, should also take up the forgotten Kashmir problem and
accordingly endorse the peaceful demand of the Kashmiris for freedom to
ensure a durable peace in the region. For realising that end and moving
towards the final resolution of Jammu and Kashmir the international
community (especially US and UK) in general and the UN Security Council in
particular should use all its moral, political, economic, and diplomatic
influence in order to 1. Stop forth with the ongoing killings of the
innocent Kashmiris. 2. Achieve a speedy withdrawal of over 600,000 Indian
forces from the region. 3. Facilitate a tripartite resolution process
towards a just and durable settlement in line with the right of
self-determination of the Kashmiris. The concern over the current state of
affairs in Kashmir as showed by the UN Chief Ban ki-Moon should not stop
only there but the Chief of the world body should see how the Indian guns
beco me silent, thick clouds of tyranny vanish and the sun of freedom
beams over Kashmir.

(Description of Source: Peshawar The Frontier Post Online in English --
Website of a daily providing good coverage of the Northwest Frontier
Province, Afghanistan, and narcotics issues; URL:
http://www.thefrontierpost.com)

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33) Back to Top
ROK Editorial Urges President to Pursue 'Balanced Foreign Policy'
Editorial: "Balanced Foreign Policy" - The Korea Times Online
Monday August 2, 2010 09:44:59 GMT
planned by the foreign ministry early this year, President L ee Myung-bak
(Yi Myo'ng-pak) should be in Africa by now. In June Seoul put off
President Lee's first African tour, which included the Congo and Ethiopia,
to next year in consideration of "the domestic political and social
situations." It was an undiplomatic and unwise move by most accounts.

Grave, unexpected accidents can change summit schedules. Yet we can find
few good reasons, either politically or socially, why Lee should currently
stay at home. When the government announced the postponement, the U.N.
Security Council was already discussing how to handle the sinking of the
frigate Ch'o'nan (Cheonan), so Lee didn't have to remain at Cheong Wa Dae
(ROK Office of the President). Moreover, the announcement more or less
coincided with his visit to Canada for the G20 summit, giving the
impression that Seoul discriminates between developed and developing
countries.All this comes in stark contrast to neighboring countries' acts.
Chinese President Hu Jintao has been visiting the resource-rich continent
every year since 2004. Japan, too, has been working hard to help the
continent overcome AIDS and poverty. The cancellation of the scheduled
visit for "domestic reasons" would have been less embarrassing for the
working-level diplomats of Korea and Africa had it not happened in the
"year of African diplomacy."Upon taking office two and a half years ago,
Lee's diplomatic team set 2008 as the year for the "big 4," 2009, as year
for Southeast Asian countries, and 2010, for Africa. One can safely say
Seoul kept its promises with just one of the four major powers the United
States in relative ignorance or at the expense of most others.Nothing
shows this better than the virtual diplomatic defeat over the Ch'o'nan
(Cheonan) resolution at the Asian Regional Forum, which was even further
watered down than the lukewarm conclusion at the United Nations. The
setback was almost inevitable, as Seoul neither recogn ized China's
dominant influence in Southeast Asia nor took note of the increasing trade
of weapons and rice between North Korea and regional countries.The
lopsided diplomacy also illuminates the background against which a Korean
diplomat had to be expelled from Libya recently. Tripoli seemed to have
felt sorry for Seoul's perception of the North African country as largely
resembling that of the West, especially the U.S., despite the huge
economic benefits it has offered to Korean businesses. One of the Libyan
government's biggest complaints was reportedly the Korean espionage
agent's possible cooperation with the U.S. government in view of the
"unprecedentedly tight alliance" between Seoul and Washington, as Seoul
officials put it.This is not to urge the Lee administration to stop
clinging to a declining superpower, as the U.S. is still the single most
important country for Korea. Even Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho'ng-il) recognized
the need for the U.S. troops' presence on the Korean Peninsula even after
its eventual reunification.It's just to remind President Lee of the old
saying "Too much is worse than too little" should apply to diplomacy, too.
A major economic test is coming soon even over what seems like the only
successful diplomacy by the Lee administration.(Description of Source:
Seoul The Korea Times Online in English -- Website of The Korea Times, an
independent and moderate English-language daily published by its sister
daily Hanguk Ilbo from which it often draws articles and translates into
English for publication; URL: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)

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Commerce.

34) Back to Top
Indonesia Encourages Reviving Six-Party Talks for Peaceful Solution on
Korean Peninsula
Xinhua: "Indonesia Encourages Reviving Six-Party Talks for Peaceful
Solution on Korean Peninsula" - Xinhua
Monday August 2, 2010 09:09:28 GMT
JAKARTA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia encouraged reviving six- party talks
to find a peaceful solution on Korean Peninsula, a minister said here on
Monday.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told the press that Indonesia
has praised the stance of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
that is willing to carry out dialogue on the matter."Safe and peaceful
situation in the area will contribute to development for the countries in
the area," said Natalegawa.The encouragement was made during bilateral
talks between Natalegawa and his DPRK counterpart Pak Ui Chun who is
scheduled in Indonesia for five days.He said that Indonesia will not
support o ther efforts except for the six-party talks among DPRK, Republic
of Korea (ROK), China, the United States, Russia and Japan.Natalegawa said
that it is a necessity that the problem must be resolved peacefully.
"Sooner is better. Uncertainty will create unfavorable situation for the
region," he said.He added that DPRK has sought for equality in the six
party talks."It means that all parties must honor sovereignty of each
country," he said.According to Natalegawa, Indonesia is in a good position
in promoting peaceful dialogue as the country has a good relationship with
both DPRK and ROK.Indonesia is a leg of Pak's visit to four ASEAN
countries aside from Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar.(Description of Source:
Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's official news service for
English-language audiences (New China News Agency))

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holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

35) Back to Top
Pakistan Article Says US Silence on Headley Issue Strengthen Indian
Propaganda
Report by Momin Iftikhar: Headley, LeT and the Indian spin doctors - The
News Online
Monday August 2, 2010 11:28:38 GMT
The signs are getting glaringly obvious that India's hyped up and
jaundiced security vision of the terrorism threat in the south Asian
Region is being accepted by the US security agencies either out of sheer
ignorance of the ground realities or simply as a convenient expedient for
acquiring a handle to push Pakistan to do more. Ratcheting up of Lashkar e
Tayyaba (LeT), an Organization that was totally confined to supporting the
struggle for freedom in Kashmir, is now fast acquiring the media profile
of a universal threat that is only notches short of al-Qaeda in its
potential for precipitating a global catastrophe. Taking their lead and
encouragement from US the Indians are using the latest episode of Headley
interrogation under the gaze of FBI to score propaganda points against
Pakistan.

The metamorphism of the Kashmir centric organization into one threatening
strategic upheaval has been deviously manipulated by the Indian spin
doctors, who using well coined sound bytes and raising the rhetoric to
highest rungs of political leadership have managed to link up the struggle
of independence in Kashmir to the scourge of terrorism.

An unceasing tirade of propaganda that links each and every incident of
terrorism in India to LeT, ISI and Pakistan, is creating a gallery of
mirrors where it becomes extremely difficult to sift through illusion and
reality. The episode of an American, David Coleman Headley (in the Indian
media parlance; Pakistani- Ame rican Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist) is the
latest addition to the gallery of rogues, which the Indian media and
establishment have created to hold Pakistan to ransom. US to its part is
keeping mum, as the Indian leadership uses the alleged association of the
American citizen with LeT to harangue Pakistan.

Headley, 49, the son of a Pakistani diplomat father and an American mother
was arrested by the FBI in September 2009 over charges of involvement in
the planning of 26 November attacks in Mumbai that left a gory trail of
166 dead. Born in Washington and spending his teen years in Pakistan, he
left for US at the age of 17, in 1977, where her mother had moved
following a split with her husband. Having morphed into the shady life of
a drug dealer in the 90's he was apprehended in a sting operation in Feb
97 and was recruited as an informant for the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA). The DEA frequently dispatched him to Afghanistan and
Pakistan to meet with drug barons w here he came into touch with
militants, including splinter groups of LeT who were harbored in the FATA
badlands after going underground following the government crackdown in
2001. The indictment in a Chicago court charged that Headley scouted
targets in Mumbai for more than two years to set up the 2008 attacks. He
was also accused of planning an attack on a Danish paper, which published
blasphemous cartoons offensive to Muslims in the extreme. The matter is
pending in the court but the US government's decision to let a four member
team of Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) question Headley in Jun
this year has given another twist to the Headley saga.

While the US authorities are silent as to what specific revelations have
been made by Headley to the Indian investigators, Indian spin-doctors are
relishing the opportunity to malign Pakistan. Indian Home Secretary GK
PIllai's remarks, just before the 15 July meeting between the Indo-Pak
Foreign Ministers, allegin g that Headley had confirmed the involvement of
Pakistan in the Mumbai attacks, played a major role in vitiating the
environment for resumption of the Indo-Pak dialog that is gathering
cobwebs in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks. Another Headley related
story has brought back to news the name of Ishrat Jehan; a 19 year old who
was killed on 15 June 2004 in a fake encounter by the Gujarat Police on
the pretext that she was a LeT operative tasked to assassinate the much
hated Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi.

The encounter, in which three other persons, two of them claimed to be
Pakistanis, was later declared fake by the Metropolitan Magistrate S P
Tamang. DIG Vanzara of the Guajrat Police, who led the encounter, is now
in jail and the trial is in the final stages of being wrapped up in the
Gujarat High Court. Ishrat's family has rubbished the media reports, which
quote Headley (without any confirmation from the government sources) to
endorse the identity of I shrat as a LeT agent. "We think that the report
is baseless. And if it is true why is the Home Ministry not issuing a
statement to confirm it," said Ishrat's mother. How can Headley speak
about an incident, which occurred in 2004 whereas he reportedly came to
India in 2007, She asks.

What has Headley told his Indian interrogators in the FBI cell remains a
mystery. US government has refused to take a position on what Headley
divulged. "I don't see how I can comment from here. Anything I would say
would either compromise intelligence information or an ongoing legal
investigation," State Department spokesman, PJ Cowley told reporters
during one of his daily press briefings. Indians have no such
compunctions. A bonanza provided through an access to Headley has given
them a propaganda opportunity, which will be exploited to the hilt by the
spin-doctors. As demonstrated by Pillai on the eve of the Indo-Pak Foreign
Minister level talks and media reports c oncerning the fake encounter case
of Ishrat Jehan, heresy and leaks based on what Headley shared - or didn't
share - with India's National Investigation Agency sleuths are the order
of the day in India's relentless propaganda war against Pakistan. US'
silence on the Headley interrogation is only lending strength to the
Indian propaganda tirade. As a damage control measure, US need to come
clean in order to reduce the vitriolic ambience that has taken hold of the
South Asian interactions.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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Commerce.

36) Back to Top
Pakistani Article Ridicules US Claim of Usama's Presence in Nation
Article by Azim Sarwar: "Usama Is in Pakistan" - Jang
Monday August 2, 2010 09:50:06 GMT
officials rarely utter the truth and they also do not hesitate to confess
their lies in public, like the former US Military Chief General Powell, in
his capacity as the US secretary of state, said in the UNSC that Iraq had
nuclear weapons and he even displayed photographs regarding this. After
that so-called claim, the United States launched an attack on Iraq.
Afterward, i.e., after the occupation, General Powell in a news conference
said that his speech in the UNSC with regard to th e Iraqi weapons was
based on lies.

Now, the incumbent Chief of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen has belligerently
said that Usama is in Pakistan. This is a great truth that Pakistan should
accept and should not issue statements against it. The reason is that Mike
Mullen must have put forward these reports, which are supported by
evidence received from the CIA agents, the US intelligence agency. Indian
intelligence agency, RAW (Research and Analysis Wing), must also have
given its opinion over it, and Israeli intelligence agency, Mosaad, must
have supported it. This is why Mike Mullen roared in India and said,
"Usama is in Pakistan."

One of our friends says it might be possible that Usama is present in the
US Embassy in Pakistan. It is possible that his latest videos and
statements are recorded over there. According to our friend, the confident
tone of the US general evinces that Usama is in the custody of the US
Ambassador W. Anne Patterson. He is present in Islamabad. Another friend
of mine was telling that Usama was in Karachi and lived in a flat in
Gulshan-e-Iqbal. He has changed his getup and now he looks like a
20-year-old young man. He regularly comes to offer his prayers. His hair
and beard is black. He is also pursuing his studies and has completed his
bachelor degree from Karachi University. He speaks very good Urdu. If
somebody asks him; "Where are you going Usama?" He responds in a
particular style and says; "I am going to a bank."

Another friend accepted this claim of our friends to prove Mike Mullen's
claim true. He said; "O, dear! Disguise, called getup by your friends,
should be learned from Usama. He is enjoying here the life of a
20-year-old young man. Moreover, he suddenly transforms himself into a
five or six years old child. Although the Americans call him a terrorist,
however, when he disguises himself to a child, he starts crying over the
slightest of rebuke and gets afraid. This friend told that he went to the
airport to escort his maternal uncle. When the flight arrived, a child,
who was aged between five or six, was jumping here and there and was
accompanied by a woman. Once he went quite far away. After this, the woman
called for him, "Usama...Usama stop there!"

This created sensation among people, who had gathered there to receive the
passengers. The woman cried again. "Usama come here. If you do not, I will
break your bones."

People saw that a terrified and trembling child, who was of five or six
years, was coming toward the woman. When he reached close the woman, she
gave him a sound jolt. After this, the child started weeping. The woman
again roared, "Usama, be silent," and people saw that terrified Usama
became silent. This friend of mine told me that Usama's performance in the
guise of a 5-year-old child was captivating. Nobody suspected that a great
"terrorist," titled so by the U S Administration, is present in the guise
of a child.

The US agent is reporting from different cities that Usama is present here
in Pakistan. He gets his identity card from somewhere, and somewhere else,
he is seen talking on his cell phone. He keeps on saying repeatedly,
"Usama is speaking." Somewhere Usama comes to purchase the ticket of an
airplane. A doctor was inspecting a patient in a hospital and after
conducting different medical tests and x-rays on him, the doctor at the
end started filling his test reports. When th e doctor asked the name of
the patient, "the patient replied, "Usama...!!!" He only said that much
and after this, the doctor got a shock and slipped from his chair. The
staff immediately came forward to offer help to the doctor, and when he
gained his senses, he said, "My brother! Pardon us. Silently go out and
visit some other hospital. Go, I did not hear your name nor do I know you.
I have not even examined you.&qu ot; The 16-year-old Usama was surprised
and he left the hospital.

When the agents report from every other place to the US higher agencies
that Usama is found at several different places and that also at the same
time, they think that Usama has obtained the latest technology, and with
the support of that technology he is being seen in different cities at the
same time. I asked my journalist friend: "When the United States knows
that Usama is present in Pakistan, why is it not catching him?" My
journalist friend said that that whenever Mike Mullen and other US people
visited India and made such claims, they were taught in Lakhnavi manner,
i.e., "You first." Then the United States asks Pakistan; "You should
arrest Usama first as you arrested Taliban ambassador Mullah Khurdaif
(Mullah Zaeef) and handed over to us. Then we caught him afterward."

Pakistan asks the United States; "If you know the whereabouts of Usama,
you should arre st him first. We shall put that to our credit as we have
taken the responsibility of your missile attacks in the past."

I have taken help from my different friends to write this article. Another
friend of mine is of the opinion that Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman
Malik is going to launch "Catch Usama" campaign shortly. He will arrest
every Usama seen in our country, whether he is in the guise of a
2-year-old toddler or in the getup of an 80-year-old man, and hand him
over to the United States. After his, he will say, "Sir! You informed us
about a single Usama. It has been disclosed after investigations that
around 2,200 Usamas are present over here. Take away all of them, and
secure your United States."

(Description of Source: Rawalpindi Jang in Urdu  The War, an
influential, largest circulation newspaper in Pakistan, circulation of
300,000. One of the moderate Urdu newspapers, pro-free enterprise,
politically neutral, supports i mprovement in Pakistan-India relations)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
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37) Back to Top
US Electoral Watchdog Finds 2010 Election Framework 'Undemocratic'
Mizzima news from "Election 2010" section: "US electoral watchdog
lambastes Burma's planned elections " - Mizzima News
Tuesday August 3, 2010 02:23:16 GMT
Chiang Mai (Mizzima)--A high-profile American organization involved in the
promotion of democratic principles around the world has concluded that
Burma's 2010 general election, as presently structured, significantly
fails to meet criteria affording international leg itimacy.The
Washington-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) on Sunday released
the findings of its research in "Burma's 2010 Electoral Framework:
Fundamentally Undemocratic."Rehashing long-standing criticisms of the
electoral process and the constitution upon which polling is based, NDI
concluded Burma's 2010 election, the first in some 20 years, "is clearly
designed to guarantee a pre-determined outcome and, therefore, does not
meet even the very minimum of international standards."Specifically, the
process is said to lack a guarantee of a government based on the will of
the people, basic human rights, freedom to stand for election and an
impartial election administration.Referring to the impact a post-election
government would have on ethnic populations, NDI determines that newly
formed government bodies at the local level "could be a vehicle for
greater participation by ethnic groups in local governance if the new
bodies reflected a genuine d evolution of power to minority groups, but
there is little evidence to suggest that that will be the case."Of the
composition of the regime's electoral commission, the U.S. organization
criticizes the present commission as lacking independence as well as the
process for failing to require that that commission act both impartially
and transparently."In sum, there is no reason to believe that the
elections as currently planned will comport with international standards.
Nor are they likely to lead to greater openness. Nothing in the behavior
of the regime over the past 20 years has signalled anything other than a
commitment to hold power at any cost," warns the report.NDI has observed
over 150 elections across the globe over the course of the last 25 years.
However, Burma remains outside the organization's physical purview."Given
the circumstances," state the report's authors, "even if Burma's law
permitted international observers, NDI would not de ploy them. The
constitution effectively locks in the military as rulers of the country in
perpetuity."As with several other American organizations involved in the
promotion of democratic principles and benefiting from government funding,
NDI has come under fire for allegedly promoting and pursuing the foreign
policy interests of Washington behind a veil of championing democratic
principles.Ian Traynor of The Guardian, investigating the role and impact
of NDI and similar organizations in the aftermath of the Ukraine's Orange
Revolution in 2005, surmised, "engineering democracy through the ballot
box and civil disobedience is now so slick that the methods have matured
into a template for winning other people's elections."

(Description of Source: New Delhi Mizzima News in English -- Website of
Mizzima News Group, an independent, non-profit news agency established by
Burmese journalists in exile in August 1998. Carries Burma-related news
and issues; URL: ht tp://www.mizzima.com)

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holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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38) Back to Top
ROK Editorial Says ROK To 'Rethink' Middle-East Diplomacy
Editorial: "S.Korea Needs to Rethink Its Middle East Diplomacy" - Chosun
Ilbo Online
Monday August 2, 2010 06:16:49 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul Chosun Ilbo Online in English -- English
website carrying English summaries and full translations of vernacular
hard copy items of the largest and oldest daily Chosun Ilbo, which is
conservative in editorial orientation -- strongly nationalistic,
anti-North Korea, and generally pro-US; URL: http://english.c hosun.com)

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39) Back to Top
RSA Weekly Examines Shortage of Small Currency for Change in Zimbabwe
Report by Jason Moyo: "No Change in Zimbabwe" - Mail &amp; Guardian
Monday August 2, 2010 19:33:47 GMT
(Description of Source: Johannesburg Mail &amp; Guardian in English -- A
credible and reliable weekly newspaper mainly owned by Zimbabwean
publisher Trevor Ncube's Newtrust Company Botswana Limited. It is known
for its in-depth, investigative reporting and for uncovering government
corruption cases. Its editorials tend to be critical of governm ent
policies)

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40) Back to Top
BTA Reviews 2 Aug Bulgarian Press Highlights
"Press Review" -- BTA headline - BTA
Monday August 2, 2010 06:04:39 GMT
"Schengen will open the doors for Bulgarians to the US, Ambassador Elena
Poptodorova says in a Sega interview. In her words, Bulgaria is on its way
of satisfying the conditions for it. However, the US Congress has to pass
a resolution allowing the visa free access to the US. "That is why a very
strong lobbying campaign in the Congress is needed from now on,"
Poptodorova says. In her words, the arguments of the lobbyists would
include not only Bulgaria's membership of the EU but also the introduction
of new identity documents with biometric data in Bulgaria. "Something else
which is very important: we obviously are about to meet the criteria for
joining the Schengen area. Once we join it, we will take a leap to
another, higher category. We will be treated on an equal footing with the
other Schengen Agreement countries, which in itself is a guarantee for
protected borders." Poptodorova does not commit to specify dates for the
US abolition of visa requirements for Bulgarians.

(Description of Source: Sofia BTA in English -- state-owned but
politically neutral press agency)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

41) Back to Top
African Leaders Express Doubt Over Obama's Commitment Toward Somali Issue
Unattributed report: "Leaders Blast US for Soft Stance on Somalia" - The
East African Online
Monday August 2, 2010 10:41:50 GMT
(Description of Source: Nairobi The East African Online in English --
Website of the weekly (Monday) English-language newspaper published by the
Nation Media Group; coverage is primarily concentrated on Kenya, Tanzania,
and Uganda but includes other regions as well; URL:
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

42) Back to Top
Russia's Great Gas Game Is a Ploy To Revive Past Power
"Russia's Great Gas Game Is a Ploy To Revive Past Power" -- The Daily Star
Headline - The Daily Star Online
Monday August 2, 2010 10:39:50 GMT
Monday, August 02, 2010

Russia and the European Union are geopolitical neighbors. Whether or
nottheir relationship is in fact neighborly, rather than tense
andconfrontational, is of critical importance to both.Unless it modernizes
its economy and society, Russia can forget its claim tostatus as a world
power in the 21st century and will continue to fall behindBOTh old and
newly emerging powers. Moreover, Russia needs partners for
itsmodernization, because its population and economic potential are too
small forit to play an important role by itself in the emerging new world
order.Russia's strategic nuclear weapons will be insufficient to ensure it
aplace among first-rank powers.But where can Russia turn? Toward East
Asia? To the south and the Islamicworld? Neither of these is a serious
option. As it is, Russia can turn onlytoward the West, and to Europe in
particular.For Europe, however, Russia's role is of critical strategic
importance.Even a partial revision of the post-Soviet order in the
direction of anincreased Russian grip on ex-Soviet states or satellites
would drasticallychange the European Union's strategy and security
policy.BOTh sides claim to want improved bilateral relations, but there is
room fordoubt about whether Russians and Europeans actually think about
their relationsin the same terms. A look beyond the cordial rhetoric
reveals profounddifferences.When Russia's former president and current
prime minister, VladimirPutin, declared several years ago that the
greatest disaster of the 20thcentury was the demise of the Soviet Union,
he didn't just speak forhimself but arguably for the major ity of Russia's
political elite. Theoverwhelming majority of Europeans, however, probably
view the USSR'sbreakup as a cause for celebration.Indeed, today's Russia
avowedly seeks to reverse the post-Soviet order inEurope that emerged
after 1989-1990, at least in parts of its neighborhood,while the Europeans
and the West want to maintain it at all costs. So long asMoscow doesn't
understand these fundamental differences and draw theright conclusions
from them, Europeans won't view Russia's openingtoward the West as an
opportunity, and Russia will always encounter deepmistrust in Europe. But
this doesn't preclude practical and pragmaticco-operation in numerous
areas.Russia today has retained its strength only as a supplier of energy
and othernatural resources. It is therefore no surprise that Putin has
sought to usethis lever to rebuild Russia's power and to revise the
post-Soviet order.Russia's natural gas supplies to Europe play a vital
role in this regard,because here, unlike in the case of oil, Russia's
bargaining position isvery strong. Even more importantly, its direct
neighbors are either completelydependent on Russian gas supplies - Ukraine
and Belarus - or, likeAzerbaijan and Turkmenistan, are dependent on
Russia's pipeline system tosell their gas output.Russia certainly pursues
economic interests with its gas-export policy -all the more so when gas
prices are trending down - and it wants toexpand its role on the European
gas market to intensify the dependencies thatnow exist. But this is
unlikely: Russia's disruption of gas supplies inJanuary 2009 made clear to
the EU in no uncertain terms what price might haveto be paid.That is why
"diversification of gas-supplier countries" has sincebeen EU policy -
including, first and foremost, the Nabucco pipelineproject, which would
open a southern corridor between the Caspian Sea, CentralAsia, northern
Iraq, and Europe. Nabucco would reach Europe via Turkey andwould
drastically reduce Cas pian supplier countries' dependence onRussia's
pipelines, and the new southeastern EU members' dependenceon Russian gas
supplies. So it comes as no surprise that the Kremlin is tryingto scupper
Nabucco.Two other developments promise to prevent increased European
dependence onRussia: the massive expansion of liquefied gas imports into
the EU and -linked to this and to deregulation of the European gas market
- thetransition from long-term supply agreements and the oil-price peg
tomarket-dependent spot prices.Nonetheless, the primary goal of Russian
gas policy isn't economic, butpolitical, namely to further the aim of
revising the post-Soviet order inEurope - a quest that is not about the EU
as much as it is about Ukraine.Ukraine's new prime minister, Mykola
Azarov, was stunned when Putinunexpectedly confronted him during a joint
press conference with a suggestionto merge the Ukrainian and Russian gas
companies. Unlike the Ukrainegovernment's assent to extending the Russian
Bla ck Sea fleet'sdeployment in Crimea - a decision that led to physical
violence inUkraine's Parliament - this was not a prolongation of the
statusquo, but a public demand for its revision.With the Nordstream
pipeline in the Baltic and the exorbitantly expensive SouthStream pipeline
in the Black Sea, Russia is not just trying to create directgas
connections between Russia and the EU that bypass Ukraine and
undermineNabucco. The main goal is to put pressure on Ukraine, as well as
on Azerbaijanand Turkmenistan, which want to supply Europe with gas
independently of Russia.Once those aims are achieved and Nabucco goes
ahead, or goes ahead, SouthStream will be shelved because it doesn't make
economic sense.In Europe and the United States, this challenge has been
understood. Now it isnecessary to stand by those in Ukraine who see a
European future for theircountry, to open the southern corridor via
Nabucco, and to acceleratedevelopment of a common European energy market.
A decisive E uropean policy willimprove, rather than strain, relations
with Russia, because it will result inmore clarity and
predictability.Joschka Fischer, Germany's foreign minister and vice
chancellor from 1998to 2005, was a leader in the German Green Party for
almost 20 years. He hasbeen advising, among other clients, the Nabucco
project since July 2009. THEDAILY STAR publishes this commentary in
collaboration with ProjectSyndicate-Institute for Human Sciences (c)
(www.project-syndicate.org).(Description of Source: Beirut The Daily Star
Online in English -- Website of the independent daily, The Daily Star;
URL: http://dailystar.com.lb)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

43) Back to Top
Secre tary Interior Says Govt Has No Proof of Dr Aafia's Kidnapping
Report by staff correspondent: "No evidence of Aafia's abduction from
Karachi, LHC told" - The News Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 05:56:28 GMT
LAHORE: The secretary Interior on Monday told the Lahore High Court that
the government had no documentary evidence of Dr Aafia Siddiqui and her
children's kidnapping from Karachi. Appearing in connection with a
contempt petition against the Interior Ministry, he said police had also
failed to collect any evidence in this regard during the course of
investigation. He further said that Aafia's son was also unable to
substantiate presumption about their kidnapping from Pakistan.

The secretary further said that an official letter along with the press
clippings regarding facts about the case had been sent to Hussain Haqqani,
the Pakistani ambassador to America. He said the ambassador would deliver
the same to the US State Department and the court which was going to
announce its verdict in Aafia's trial on August 16.

After hearing his argument, Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry reserved the
verdict on the contempt petition against the Interior Ministry, pointing
out that the ministry had not given any documentary evidences to the
Foreign Ministry but relied on the media reports.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

44) Back to Top
Raul Castro Addresses Labor, Salary Measures, Prisoners, US Relations
corrected version: correcting typo; Full text of Cuban President Raul
Castro's address at the closing of the fifth session of the Seventh
Legislature of the National Assembly of the People's Government. - Cuba.cu
Monday August 2, 2010 20:16:11 GMT
This session of the National Assembly (of the People's Government, ANPP)
has approved two important legal instruments: the law to modify the
current Political-Administrative Divisions and the Road Safety Code.

The changes to the Political-Administrative Division have been amply
reported in our press and debated over the course of recent months in the
territories that are involved, in addition to the c orresponding party,
government and state institutions, which allows me to avoid going into
details, except to underscore that its main purpose is to raise the
population's awareness via a more functional and rational organization of
the government and (public) administration. With this we are also
fulfilling the agreements reached in successive Party congresses regarding
the need to analyze the Political-Administrative Division after a prudent
period of time so it can be adapted to existing conditions.

The new provinces Artemisa and Mayabeque will be born on 1 January 2011
without repeating the mistakes that have accompanied the work of local
People's Government institutions, under a concept of savings and the
rational use of resources, especially with regard to payrolls that are in
line with their functions and a clear delimitation of powers in
interrelations with institutions of the central state administration,
national companies, and political and mass organizatio ns.

For its part, the Road Safety Code, the approval of which was postponed in
the previous session to elaborate its contents in greater depth to
reconcile discrepancies that existed at the time and to progress with the
drafting of complementary provisions, is a contribution to increasing
social discipline and to protecting human lives, in addition to reducing
major economic losses.

Passing on to other matters, I am not unaware of the expectations that the
26 July speeches to the legislature generate. Some people were surprised
that the keynote speech in Santa Clara was given by comrade (Jose Ramon)
Machado Ventura in what was, incidentally, a magnificent speech.

It is true that since the victory of the Revolution that task had always
fallen to comrade Fidel and on a handful of occasions to me, but the
speaker is not what is important. Rather, the contents of the speech are,
as they express the consensus opinion of the Party and the state on the
most imp ortant issues in everyday national life.

Several press agencies and self-appointed "analysts" of Cuban affairs
spent the days preceding and following the 26 July ceremony with countless
news reports and articles in which they distorted our reality, stridently
anticipating supposed reforms of our economic and social system and the
application of capitalist recipes to put the economy on track. Some of
them were even so bold as to describe the existence of a struggle between
different tendencies in the Revolution's leadership, and they all agreed
in calling for swifter and more profound changes aimed at dismantling
socialism.

A cold observation of these press campaigns reveals that almost all
agencies follow the same pattern. I am not referring to the reporters, who
are obliged to follow the editorial line that the media consortiums set
out and demand of them, even if they sometimes use the same prefabricated
phrases and qualifiers. It is not uncommon to find complete paragraphs
that are identical, regardless of whether they are from one part of the
world or another.

With the experience that we have accumulated in over 55 years of
revolutionary struggle, it would seem that we are not doing so badly and
that we are neither desperate nor frustrated. If they were to praise us,
then we would have a reason to be worried.

As comrade Machado affirmed last 26 July, I quote: "We will forge ahead
with a sense of responsibility, step by step at our own pace, without
improvisation or rashness, to keep from going astray and to definitively
leave behind mistakes or measures that are not appropriate to the current
condi tions." (end of quotation)

Our most important strategic weapon is unity among revolutionaries, among
the Revolution's leaders, and among the majority of the people, which has
allowed us to get this far and to continue to improve socialism into the
future.

Though it pains our enemies, o ur unity is more solid than ever today. It
is not the fruit of a false unity or opportunistic simulation; unity does
not exclude honest discrepancies, but rather presupposes the debate of
different ideas but with the same ultimate goals of social justice and
national sovereignty, which will always allow us to make the best
decisions.

Unity is fostered and obtained in the broadest socialist democracy and in
the open debate of all issues with the people, regardless of how sensitive
they are.

And speaking of sensitive issues, I must inform you that after months of
studies in the context of updating the Cuban economic model, at the last
Council of Ministers meeting held on 16 and 17 July, in which the vice
presidents of the Council of State and other members of the Politburo and
the Central Committee took part, along with the first secretaries of the
provincial Party committees, the presidents of the provincial
administrative councils, and the center cadres of the CTC (Federation of
Cuban Workers), other mass organizations, the UJC (Union of Young
Communists), and high ranking institutional officials, a series of
measures were agreed upon to gradually engage in a reduction of the
considerably inflated payrolls in the state sector.

In an initial stage, which we intend to complete in the first quarter of
next year, the labor and salary treatment of available and interrupted
workers at a series of institutions in the central state administration
will be modified, eliminating the paternalistic approaches that
disincentivize the need to work for a living and in that way reducing the
unproductive expenses that are embodied in equal pay -- regardless of the
numbers of years of service -- with a salary guarantee for long periods of
time for people who do not work.

The success of this process will to a great degree depend on the political
consolidation that we must achieve, under the leadership of the Party and
with the active p articipation of the CTC and union organizations. A
transparent atmosphere of dialogue must be created that privileges
opportune and clear information for workers, where decisions are
appropriately reached in consensus and the required organizational
conditions are created.

The strict observance of the principle of proven appropriateness when it
comes to deciding who deserves to have the most right to a job must
contribute to avoiding any expression of favoritism or discrimination by
gender or for any other grounds, which must be confronted with utmost
firmness.

The Council of Ministers also agreed to expand independent work and its
use as yet another employment alternative for surplus workers, eliminating
several prohibitions currently in force to award new licenses and for the
sale of certain products, introducing flexibility in the hiring of labor.

At the same time, the aforementioned meeting on 16 and 17 July approved
the application of a tax structur e for independent workers that responds
to the new economic scenario, ensuring that the people who engage in such
activities contribute to social security, pay income and sales taxes, and
that those who hire workers pay the tax for using the workforce.

The CTC National Council expanded plenary will soon be held, where we will
go into detail on these important decisions with the main workers'
leaders, as in and of themselves they constitute a structural and
conceptual shift to preserve and to develop our social system and to make
it more sustainable in the future so we can fulfill the Cuban people's
mandate as expressed in the Constitution of the Republic: that its
socialist nature and the political and social system it contains are
irrevocable (Applause).

We have no doubt that we wil l have the decisive support of the working
class to materialize these measures, who together with campesinos and the
remaining social sectors understand that without increasing eff iciency
and productivity it will be impossible to raise salaries, to increase
exports and replace imports, for food production to grow, and to
ultimately sustain the tremendous social spending that is inherent to our
socialist system, an area where we also need to be rational and to save
much more without sacrificing quality.

In addition, I believe that nobody can ignore the transcendental
contribution that the application of these measures will make to improving
social and labor discipline.

In reaching these agreements we started out with the idea that nobody will
be left unprotected. The socialist state will through its social security
system provide the necessary support for a dignified life for those who
really are not capable of working and are the only support for their
families. We must forever banish the idea that Cuba is the only country in
the world where you can live without working.

We have likewise progressed with the studies commissioned by the Sixth
Party Congress Economic Policy Committee and the diverse work groups are
toiling without rest to draft proposals, which we will first analyze with
the members of the party and the population as a whole.

Amid the adverse international economic scenario and its inevitable effect
on our country, the estimates from the first half of the year contain
encouraging results for the national economy, despite the failure to
fulfill the plan for sugar and other agricultural products thanks to
administrative mistakes and also the effects of the drought.

The arrival of foreign visitors has increased; oil production is being
fulfilled; internal monetary balance has been maintained and even
improved; labor productivity is showing a higher rate than the average
salary, a goal that had not been achieved for several years; exports have
risen modestly, and the consumption of energy has dropped with the
reorganization of transportation and the effect of other savings mea
sures.

Electricity consumption has shown positive results in the state sector, in
contrast with the residential one, which has grown more than had been
expected.

Precisely a year ago I referred to the external financial restrictions
that we faced due to an accumulation of payment commitments and the need
to renegotiate debts. Today I can tell you that, thanks to the confidence
and understanding on the part of the majority of our creditors, we have
managed to make progress in the postponement of obligations, which it is
our firm desire to honor within the new deadlines that we have agreed
upon. Likewise, the accumulated withholding of transfers overseas to
suppliers that have accumulated to date is barely one third of what is was
a year ago. In addition, another sign of security in the country is the
fact that foreign deposits in Cuban banks have increased.

I must also refer to another issue on the public agenda. In a sovereign
decision that is in strict compliance with our laws, the first 21
counterrevolutionary inmates were released from prison and left the
country recently, out of a total of 53 who were sentenced in 2003 for
crimes against state security.

Previously, since 2004, another 22 people sentenced in the same case had
been given parole from jail.

It should be noted that none of these citizens was condemned for his
ideas, as the brutal campaigns in different parts of the world to
discredit Cuba have tried to make it look like they were.

As was irrefutably proven in the oral trial, they all committed crimes
that are considered and punishable under our laws and did so in the
service of the US Government and its policy of blockade and subversion.

We cannot forget that at the time -- 2003 -- then President George W.
Bush, drunk from the apparent victories in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars,
had proclaimed a "change of system" in Cuba and directly threatened our
national security, go ing so far as to publicly appoint an intervener to
administer the country after its occupation, as they had just done in
Iraq. As a consequence, dozens of plans for internal destabilization and
the hijacking of planes and ships were hatched and we have had to handle
them with the utmost firmness based on a strict respect for the law.

The Revolution can be generous because it is strong; its strength lies in
the people's majority support and its ability to resist so many years of
aggression and sacrifice, which is why it is not in vain to say that there
will be no impunity for the enemies of the homeland, for those who try to
put our independence at risk (Applause).

Let nobody be fooled: the defense of our sacred conquests, of our streets
and squares, will continue to be first duty of all revolutionaries and we
will not deny them that right (Prolonged applause).

In an aside, we can say that the poor intervener appointed by George W.
Bush has been left unem ployed (Laugher).

Regarding Cuba and the United States, essentially nothing has changed: our
brave Five Heroes continue to suffer unjustly in prison and from abusive
treatment, such as the cruelty that is currently being committed with
comrade Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo and which this Assembly has condemned.
Though there is less rhetoric and occasional bilateral talks are held on
specific and limited issues, the fact is that the blockade continues to be
applied and we will continue to act with the serenity and patience that we
have learned over more than half a century.

We Cuban revolutionaries do not lose any sleep over difficulties; our only
path is to continue in the struggle with optimism and an unbreakable faith
in victory.

Thank you very much (Ovation).

(Description of Source: Havana Cuba.cu in Spanish -- Government portal
maintained by Center for Automated Exchange of Information, Cenai; daily
updates; URL: http://www.cuba.cu)

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45) Back to Top
Lithuanian Article Analyzes Impact of State Security Reforms on 'Statesmen
Clan'
Article by Tomas Jankauskas: "Blow to Statesmen's Bastion" - Lietuvos
Zinios
Monday August 2, 2010 09:57:12 GMT
According to Lietuvos Zinios 's reliable sources, VSD Director Gediminas
Grina has dealt a very painful blow to the leaders of the "statesmen
clan," and by doing so he consolidated the purification policy initiated
by President Dalia Grybauskaite some time ago.

Reportedly, it was the new VSD director's decision to cross out
Dabasinskas from the VSD reserve list. Dabasinskas, who had served as VSD
deputy director for many years (but was dismissed from the post by
Grybauskaite), was perceived as a factual VSD director. VSD Personnel Is a
Taboo Topic

"The VSD does not provide any information about its personnel," VSD
spokesman Vytautas Makauskas told Lietuvos Zinios.

The VSD's decision to dissociate itself from Dabasinskas for good also
means that one of the key "statesmen's" pillars may lose the post of
ministerial adviser to the Lithuanian Embassy in Ukraine. Dabasinskas was
delegated to the post by the VSD at the approval of the then Foreign
Minister Vygaudas Usackas. By the way, Usackas also lost his post at
Grybauskaite's initiative. Had a Strong Position

For a long time, Dabasinskas behaved as if he was the key figure in the
VSD and in the entire country. The importance of Dabasinskas, who had been
working as VSD deputy director since 2001, was acknowledged also by his
direct supervisors (VSD directors) -- KGB reservist Arvydas Pocius and
later on by Povilas Malakauskas -- whose position in the "statesmen clan"
was much lower than that of Dabasinskas.

A simple fact proves Dabasinskas's high-ranking position in the hierarchy
(of the "statesmen clan"): Even after the president deprived him of the
post (in the VSD), his successor became his close associate Romualdas
Vaisnoras, deputy chief of the VSD First (Intelligence) Department.

Dabasinskas's influence was not diminished by the Turniskes (property)
scandal in 2006, during which it was revealed that he and several other
"statesmen" managed to purchase houses in the neighborhood of the
presidential residence for almost nothing. The VSD management did discuss
Dabasinskas's behavior and reprimanded him "for the activities that could
cast doubt on the official's good name."

Most likely, he redeemed his wrongdoings by stalking the honest VSD
officials who were wrongly accused of being "moles" and who dared to
testify before the Seimas (parliament) on the prehistory of the tragic
death of (VSD) Colonel Vytautas Pociunas in Belarus. Dabasinskas's role in
all that was not a nice one. Found Shelter in the Foreign Ministry

The first blow came in the fall of 2009, when the president started
implementing reforms and showed Dabasinskas and his friend (VSD Deputy
Director) Darius Jurgelevicius the door.

Dabasinskas found shelter in one of the bastions of the "statesmen" -- the
Foreign Ministry, another such a bastion was the VSD. The then Foreign
Minister Vygaudas Usackas agreed to delegate the former higher-ranking VSD
official (Dabasinskas) to the Lithuanian Embassy in Ukraine for three
years.

Several months after the decision Usackas had a chance to review the
scandalous decision, because in December 2009, the parliamentary National
Security and Defense Commit tee (NSGK), which carried out an investigation
into the allegations that Lithuania had hosted a CIA prison on its
territory, established that VSD officials participated together with the
partners in the implementation of the project that had discredited
Lithuania; that the VSD officia ls could visit all the objects without any
limitations, but when the partners were visiting the objects, the VSD
officials did not visit some of the objects. According to NSGK's
information, it was Dabasinskas who was informing VSD officials when such
meetings could take place and how to prepare for them. Moreover, the NSGK
obtained information that Dabasinskas did not inform the Lithuanian
leaders about the premises for the CIA prison, even though he claims he
did so.

Even after that Dabasinskas remained in his post. Usackas, who was at the
time foreign minister, said that the NSGK conclusions did not include any
accusations and that we should honor the law because we live in a count ry
that respects the rule of law. Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius's statement
that the diplomatic corps has higher requirements and standards than that
possessed by Dabasinskas, who was working in the Lithuanian Embassy in
Ukraine, was ignored.

The "statesmen" clan, which has ensnared our country like an octopus, has
recently regrouped, adapted to the new conditions, and is trying to keep
its influential friends in the influential posts or to appoint their
successors. The president has made the first step toward freeing the
country. It looks like the second step will be taken by the VSD.

(Description of Source: Vilnius Lietuvos Zinios in Lithuanian -- National,
centrist, privately-owned daily of general interest with limited
readership)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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46) Back to Top
U.S. Asks For S. Korea's Help With Sanctions on N. Korea - Yonhap
Tuesday August 3, 2010 05:23:12 GMT
US envoy-NK sanctions

U.S. asks for S. Korea's help with sanctions on N. KoreaSEOUL, Aug. 3
(Yonhap) -- The United States asked South Korea Tuesday to cooperate with
its push for financial sanctions on North Korea aimed at isolating those
involved in Pyongyang's illicit activities from the international
financial system, Seoul officials said.The request was made in a
closed-door meeting between Robert Einhorn, the U.S. State Department's
special adviser for nonproliferation and arms control, and South Korea's
key policymakers in charge of international financial affairs in the
government complex in Gwacheon, south of Seoul."During the meeting, the
U.S. official explained to us about financial sanctions in connection with
North Korea and Iran. They wanted our government to join the moves, asking
for cooperation, "said Kim Ik-joo, chief of the international financial
bureau at the Ministry of Strategy and Finance. He did not go further into
details.Few details are known about what measures the U.S. envoy brought
to the table. Before entering the talks, Einhorn was short with words only
to say to reporters, "We are going to have good conversation here."Experts
and policymakers close to the matter, however, say that the two sides
could have talks on sharing information related to the North's illicit
activities including dollar counterfeiting and money laundering."Financial
sanctions could be more effective when there is cooperation from other
major countries rather than a move by the U.S. by itself," a finance
ministry official said on condition of anonymity. "The area where we could
coop erate with the U.S. is to share information related to the North's
dollar counterfeiting or money laundering."The meeting comes after the
U.S. envoy said on Monday -- after holding talks with key foreign ministry
officials -- that the United States will soon announce new
country-specific measures targeting those involved in North Korea's
illicit activities.Einhorn arrived in Seoul on Sunday along with other
officials including Daniel Glaser, deputy assistant secretary of the
treasury for terrorist financing and financial crimes, to have talks on
the new sanctions that the U.S. is putting together to punish North Korea
over the deadly sinking of the South Korean warship Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) in
March.(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in English -- Semiofficial news
agency of the ROK; URL: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

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47) Back to Top
Success, Failure of Sanctions on DPRK Depends on China
Chosun Ilbo headline: The Most Important Aim of Sanctions Against N.Korea
- Chosun Ilbo Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 05:54:27 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul Chosun Ilbo Online in English -- English
website carrying English summaries and full translations of vernacular
hard copy items of the largest and oldest daily Chosun Ilbo, which is
conservative in editorial orientation -- strongly nationalistic,
anti-North Korea, and generally pro-US; URL: http://english.chosun.com)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries r egarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
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48) Back to Top
Dvorkin Argues That START III Ratification Is to Russia's Benefit
Article by Major-General (Retired) Vladimir Zinovyevich Dvorkin, chief
scientific associate of Russian Academy of Sciences World Economics and
International Relations Institute, under rubric "Realities": "Prague
Treaty: Plus Times Minus Equals Plus: START Ratification Is to Russia's
Benefit" - Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 04:33:11 GMT
When the Duma already had practically "mellowed" for its approval, the
United States twice sharply exacerbated our relations as a result of
actions by US and NATO armed forces not sanctioned by the UN Security
Council. The first time was in the Persian Gulf and the second time was
after having initiated war in Yugoslavia. It finally was managed to extend
the START II term of validity by five years in New York in 1997 and to
sign two coordinated statements delimiting strategic and nonstrategic PRO
(BMD). But later the US Senate refused to ratify it due to intentions of
withdrawing from the 1972 ABM Treaty, and plans for talks to discuss the
prepared draft of START III were disrupted at the same time. Nothing Will
Work Out Without Trust

Something similar happened with SALT II, which also was not approved by
the American Senate although the parties agreed to adhere to its
limitations and complied with them for a lengthy time.

But if we assume that the United States will not ratify the Prague Treaty,
then fulfillment of its terms by agreement of the two countries'
governments hardly seems likely inasmuch as the verification mechanism
will not have been launched. The (mechanism) was absent in SALT II a nd
verification of its fulfillment was ensured chiefly with the help of
national technical means of reconnaissance.

The Pentagon and State Department are applying considerable efforts for
ratification of the Prague Treaty and are rather optimistic for now on the
assumption that this will be possible before the fall midterm elections to
the Senate, after which the Republicans may strengthen their influence.
But critics of the Treaty in the United States are not letting up and are
putting forth many grievances that appear absurd to specialists. For
example, it is asserted that the Treaty should lead to a reduction and
limitation of Russia's nonstrategic nuclear weapons for which Russia has a
multiple superiority, that it obstructs deployment of the US BMD, that the
Americans will have to reduce the number of strategic delivery vehicles
while the Russians can build them up, and so on.

Treaty critics are not withdrawing their claims even though State
Department a nd Pentagon spokesmen refute them very rationally, explaining
that it is impossible to include nonstrategic nuclear weapons in a
strategic arms treaty because of fundamental differences in methods of
basing the latter and of possible verification measures, that the American
BMD program is not being limited in any way, and that (even) without the
treaty restrictions Russia is reducing its strategic delivery vehicles
because of service life limitations and will be unable to increase their
number for the same reason. It is impossible to force them to be silent in
a democratic state. Moreover, plans announced in Russia for developing a
new silo-based "heavy" missile may help these critics.

It cannot be excluded that entirely different factors will influence
Senate hearings, factors connected, for example, with the development of
Russia's trade and economic rela tions with Iran in the oil, natural gas,
and petrochemical sectors, including the sale of refined pe troleum
products, which runs counter to unilateral US sanctions against this
country and which also can extend to Russian enterprises. Such
complications in relations are capable of affecting the "reset"
atmosphere, as a result of which Prague Treaty ratification processes may
take a backseat.

As we know, the situation in Russia is different and results of a State
Duma discussion of the new START will depend practically completely on the
position of the country's leadership, to which the ruling party will
adhere strictly. And even if the leader of the LDPR (Liberal Democratic
Party of Russia) faction now heatedly criticizes the Treaty, it hardly can
be doubted that the entire faction will vote, as always, in support of the
guideline. A version also is possible, though, where the faction will vote
as appropriate in accordance with the guidelines in order to maintain a
balance with United States not only in the number of nuclear warheads, but
also in the nu mber of dissenting votes. In any case members of the US
Senate must be informed of all critical arguments of Russian lawmakers and
experts who consider the new Treaty detrimental to Russia. This will help
them approve the Treaty. Criticism Differs

Meanwhile, criticism of the Prague Treaty by a number of experts in Russia
merits attention not so much as it pertains to Treaty details as to the
very principle of nuclear arms reduction in the context of a significant
lag of general-purpose forces behind those of developed states and above
all the United States. In fact, are there real grounds to attack Treaty
terms proper if in contrast to its predecessor it contains as the main
restrictions only permissible limits for warheads on deployed delivery
vehicles (1,550), on the number of deployed delivery vehicles (700), and
on the cumulative number of deployed and non-deployed MBR (ICBM) and BRPL
(SLBM) launchers and TB's (heavy bombers) (800)? There are no limitations
at all on the structures and sublevels of the parties' nuclear triads.
Rules for counting warheads were changed substantially compared with START
I: their number is determined according to the actual arming of ICBM's and
SLBM's regardless of the number of seats on dispensing platforms, and any
number of KRVB's (ALCM's) on heavy bombers is considered one warhead. To
remove missile-armed submarines from the number deployed, there is no need
not only to "pull out" launchers from them, but also to completely cut out
missile compartments, which was specified by terms of the previous Treaty.

The new START imposes no restrictions of any kind on the modernization and
replacement of strategic offensive arms. It is necessary only to give
notification of a new type of ICBM and SLBM that differs from a previously
declared type in technical characteristics for at least one feature:
number of stages, type of fuel, length of missile (less nose section),
length of first st age, and diameter of first stage by more than 3%. This
provides considerably greater freedom to modernize and change missile
arming compared with terms of START I.

American plans to fit SLBM's and ICBM's with precision nonnuclear warheads
was one of the problems back before and during the process of
negotiations. As follows from the Treaty text, the United States agreed to
include missiles with such arming in the cumulative permissible number of
strategic arms. This means US plans do not include deployment of
nonnuclear SLBM's and ICBM's in such numbers that could appreciably lower
the nuclear potential of SNV (strategic offensive arms).

There also were significant changes in the systems of inspections and
notifications agreed upon by the parties. The inspection rate declined
from 28 to 18 per year and they were divided into two types. The first
type includes inspections to confirm data on numbers and types of deployed
and non-deployed arms, on the number of warheads on deployed ICBM's and
SLBM's, and on the number of weapons on deployed heavy bombers. The second
type includes inspections to verify data on numbers, types, and technical
characteristics of non-deployed arms and facts of refitting or elimination
of arms, and to confirm that previously declared facilities are not being
used for purposes violating Treaty provisions.

There was a reduction in the number of notifications regarding routine
benchmark data on the status of strategic arms, their movements, and
inspection activities: 42 kinds of notifications instead of 152 under
START I.

While there were 39 agreed declarations under START I, only 10 remained in
the new Treaty and they basically involve only inspection activities;
procedures for presenting arms, including inspections of SLBM launchers
refitted for cruise missiles; and the traditional ban on rapid reloading
(fifth declaration).

True, it is impossible to ignore the Treaty shortcoming i nvolving the
exchange of telemetry. The Russian leadership insisted that there be no
such exchange at all, explaining this by the fact that Russia will be
conducting flight tests of new types of ICBM's and SLBM's, while new
developments are not expected in the United States in the near future. The
lengthy discussions ended with the parties agreeing to provide magnetic
tape recordings of parameters measured in flight for no more than five
missile launches annually, with the proviso that each party itself chooses
the specific launches for the results of which it provides the necessary
data.

Thus, Russia will be deprived of the possibility of receiving information
on results of flight tests of American SLBM's and ICBM's with nonnuclear
precision warheads, while information on the characteristics of that type
of arming could prove useful to Russian specialists. At the same time, the
launches of new Russian Yars ICBM's and Bulava SLBM's already have been
conducted under the effect of START I, and magnetic tapes with results of
telemetry measurements had to be passed to the American side. So the
Americans would not receive anything new.

On the whole, the text and terms of the new START appear fully acceptable
to Russia and there is no need to defend it against unprofessional
attacks, especially as NVO (Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye ) already
has commented repeatedly on such criticism (see, for example, the article
by Viktor Yesin in No 25). This does not, however, mean a refusal to
discuss fears arising periodically that with the deep SNV reductions
Russia ends up unprotected in the face of overwhelming superiority of the
United States and of the West as a whole in general-purpose forces with
tens of thousands of precision nonnuclear weapons, in the face of a BMD
being deployed by the United States, and in the face of the NATO military
infrastructure approaching Russian borders. The Minuteman missile is the
principal US ICBM. The Prague Treaty applies to it as well; photo from the
book Atomnyy vek (The Atomic Age) What Affects Reductions

It must be emphasized above all that beginning in 1992 not one missile or
launcher and not one missile-armed submarine or heavy bomber has been
eliminated in Russia because of restrictions of treaties in force (START
I, SORT (Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty)) or will be eliminated
under terms of the new Treaty. Reductions were made because of the total
exhaustion of repeatedly extended service lives and low rates of
introduction of new arms to the order of battle. Suffice it to note that
when START I entered into force in 1994, Russia's SYaS (Strategic Nuclear
Forces) already had been reduced naturally by approximately one and
one-half times. The number of warheads in the nuclear triad h ad dropped
from 10,299 in 1992 to 7,059 in December 1994. In particular, the number
of heavy missiles had dropped from 308 to 204 and the number of
missile-armed submarines from 62 to 47. By this time the composition of
the American SNS (strategic offensive forces) remained practically
unchanged, but subsequently was to be reduced under terms of START I.

And with respect to the Prague Treaty, it showed a very important feature
and the coincidence of nuclear policy of Moscow and Washington -- the
absence of intentions to carry out actual reductions in their strategic
arms in the foreseeable future below the level fixed in the Moscow SORT
(1,700-2,200 warheads) back in 2002. The lower level of warheads under the
new Treaty is demonstrated essentially only by a change in rules for
counting warheads on bombers. If we accept that 1,120 ALCM's actually can
be accommodated on the 56 deployed American B-52 heavy bombers, but 672
warheads under rules of the conditional count under START I, now 56 of
them remain. In the very same way the actual number of warheads (over 850)
on 77 deployed Russian Tu-160 and Tu-95MS heavy bombers be comes 77.
Therefore concern over new reductions in Russia's SYaS can be set aside
for now.

Fears connected with the overwhelming superiority of US and NATO
general-purpose forces capable of using precision-guided munitions to
destroy or significantly weaken Russia's SYaS are based on the one hand on
still persisting notions of a force confrontation at the peak of the Cold
War, which by the way are stimulated periodically by "unbridled"
independent experts in the United States. On the other hand, even if we
consider the fantastic scenarios of a nonnuclear weapon attack on the
Russian SYaS, which would mean wide-scale war against nuclear-weapon
Russia and which no one in the West can imagine even in nightmares, then
proponents of such a threat should have carefully read the conditions for
use of nuclear weapons in Russia's new Military Doctrine.

The massive use of conventional arms against Russia specifically
represents a threat to its existence, and the response will be nuclear.
This is why the superiority in Western general-purpose forces represents
not a military threat, but the danger of ending up on the periphery of
technological development, which gave rise to calls for modernizing the
country.

All these considerations also pertain to the hyperbolized threat of the
American BMD. But even if one adheres to the force confrontation paradigm,
it would be well to become familiar with a truth that seemingly is
paradoxical for nonspecialists: as strategic arms are reduced, the
effectiveness of the BMD, which is considered to be designed to intercept
missiles taking part in a retaliatory strike, is reduced inasmuch as with
low levels of SNV the meaning of a first disarming strike is lost for the
reason that when it is delivered, the side subjected to attack is left
with more missiles for retaliatory actions that are capable of penetrating
the BMD.

Estimates by expert professionals within the scope of the pr oject of the
London International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) during
2009-2010 of the effectiveness of intercepting Iranian missiles by SM-3
systems planned to be deployed in Europe can serve as an indicator of the
contrived nature of threats from the American BMD. According to these
estimates, the intercept of one Iranian missile will require a minimum of
five (!) SM-3 interceptor missiles. Now one can imagine the effectiveness
of this BMD in attempts to intercept Russian ICBM's with constantly
improving advanced means of penetrating any BMD. Therefore it is entirely
senseless to plan to intercept our missiles.

Proponents of a force confrontation with the West should not fear, but
welcome the approach of the NATO military infrastructure to Russian
borders. The weakness of space and aerial reconnaissance can be
compensated by snatching a prisoner for interrogation. Even Iskanders will
not be needed for an attack on a B MD/PVO (air defense) base with Pa triot
complexes in Poland 70 km from our borders. And in general, the closer the
better: you can toss grenades at the enemy. How We Are To Live Further

But if one seriously examines the State Duma discussion of the Prague
Treaty, one should take into account the American experience of preparing
it for Senate ratification. First of all, the latest Nuclear Review
(Nuclear Posture Review, Report 2010) was published in April, which
specified in detail all priorities of US nuclear policy. Along with a
declarative decrease in reliance on nuclear weapons for national security,
it is not without interest to note adherence to a number of principles
from the past, particularly arguments in favor of retaining all three
components of the strategic nuclear forces (ground, air, sea) as
guarantees in case one component loses effectiveness for any reason. This
is precisely from the old concepts of nuclear deterrence of the USSR. At
the same time, discussions of the future possib ility of rejecting one of
the components continue. Most likely the United States can give up the air
component, inasmuch as already long ago it was possible to hear from very
competent spokesmen of the Pentagon high command about a shortage of heavy
bombers for nonnuclear missions. Attempts to give up ground-based ICBM's
run into resistance of authorities of the states where these ICBM's are
based.

It seems that for the weakened Russian Armed Forces all the more so there
would have to be a shortage of heavy bombers with precision and nonnuclear
ALCM's capable of performing combat missions in TVD's (theaters of
military operations) adjoining the borders without entering BMD zones.
Considering the new rules for counting warheads under the Prague Treaty,
Russia would lose practically nothing in the nuclear balance with the
United States with a rejection of nuclear-weapon heavy bombers.

Secondly, the United States openly announced the SNV composition under
terms of the new Treaty: 420 deployed ICBM's, 60 deployed heavy bombers,
and 14 submarines with 240 SLBM's. Russian authorities are silent on this
matter; the experts can of course construct relatively valid forecasts,
but this is entirely insufficient to demonstrate an open policy of nuclear
deterrence. These parameters possibly are being discussed in closed State
Duma sessions, but this is not enough.

In particular, it is not known how the Defense Ministry is arguing the
need to develop and deploy a new "heavy" ICBM with fixed basing. One can
hear about insufficient throw-weight of the Topol-M ICBM and Bulava SLBM,
about the need to fill vacated launch silos with something, and other
arguments which do not hold up under serious criticism. Increased
throw-weight still could have been justified somehow in the past when
missions were assigned to destroy large areas of cities. But since then
they have learned to represent area targets in the form of a concentr ated
set of targets, destruction of which does not require warheads of enormous
yield; low-yield warheads with increased accuracy are quite sufficient. So
why are new "heavy" missiles necessary which now are considered a
destabilizing type of weapon?

Instead of this it is considerably more advantageous from every standpoint
to build up a grouping of Topol-M mobile ICBM's with RGCh (multiple
reentry vehicles). If (the other) decision finally is made, then the
mildest thing that can be said about it is that it is a crude strategic
miscalculation.

Thirdly, in order to soothe proponents of retaining reliable nuclear
deterrence, the United States has provided significant appropriations to
maintain the entire nuclear infrastructure, including nuclear
laboratories. It would be interesting to know how these problems are being
resolved in Russia.

It is advisable to discuss all the above issues openly not only in the
State Duma (although there above a ll), but also in the broader expert
area with the involvement of RAN (Russian Academy of Sciences) scientists
and independent specialists. As a result of such discussions it also would
be possible to get an idea about more general problems of security. For
example, to arrive at a general understanding that the SNV balance with
the United States within the framework of Treaty limitations has nothing
to do with Russia's military security, but plays the role of a status
factor. The regime of transparency possibly is more important. It is a
safeguard against an overassessment of the sides' military potentials,
which always has led to excessive expenditures of human and material
resources.

(Description of Source: Moscow Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye Online in
Russian -- Website of weekly military newspaper published by Remchukov's
Nezavisimaya Gazeta; URL: http://nvo.ng.ru/)

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49) Back to Top
Schwarzenberg Says Czech Troops To Control Proposed MD Early Warning
Center
Interview with Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, TOP 09 (Tradition,
Responsibility, and Prosperity 09) chairman, by "rsk"; place and date not
given: "Americans Were Waiting for Developments in Czech Republic" - Pravo
Online
Monday August 2, 2010 15:12:27 GMT
(Schwarzenberg) Not much. No, we have not talked about it.

(Pravo) How long have talks with the Americans being going on?

(Schwarzenberg) At this moment I cannot say this. They have expressed an
interest, but so far there have not been any negotiations, because I
rather think that the American side has been waiting to see how things
develop here in the Czech Republic, and now they are actually taking clear
steps. In the meanwhile the Americans have talked about this a little bit,
but I do not yet know about any concrete talks.

(Pravo) Who is going to be in control of this missile defense system? If
it is supposed to a part of NATO, then is this therefore going to be
Czechs, or are there also going to be Americans here?

(Schwarzenberg) It has been clearly stated that this is going to be Czech
soldiers.

(Pravo) There are not, then, for instance, going to be American experts
here?

(Schwarzenberg) First of all they are going to have to learn this, because
it is an American system. However, fundamentally and in principle this is
going to be served by Czech soldiers.

(Pravo) One location is supposed to be at the General Staff, and another
one elsewhere...

(Schwarzenberg) That is a matte r for the army; I am not an expert in
this.

(Pravo) Are there going to be any security risks associated with this?

(Schwarzenberg) It is going to be guarded like every other military
facility.

(Pravo) Is the entire project still going to have to be approved by
parliament?

(Schwarzenberg) I am going to have this matter examined. Today (on Friday
(Jul 30)) an American representative is going to arrive, and I will learn
more.

(Description of Source: Prague Pravo Online in Czech -- Website of
independent, center-left daily with good access to social democratic
policy makers; known as the best-informed daily; URL:
http://pravo.novinky.cz)Attachments:SchwarzenbergPravo31Jul10.odt

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

50 ) Back to Top
DPRK's KCNA: Russian Organizations Decry US-ROK Combined Naval Exercises
KCNA headline: "U.S.-S. Korea War Exercises Protested" - KCNA
Tuesday August 3, 2010 04:17:34 GMT
(Description of Source: Pyongyang KCNA in English -- Official DPRK news
agency. URL: http://www.kcna.co.jp)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.

51) Back to Top
Press Agency Review of 2 Aug Czech Press
"Czech Press Survey" -- Czech Happenings headline - Czech Happenings
Monday August 2, 2010 14:24:23 GMT
Czechs might have said then that even though American President Barack
Obama scrapped the radar project in the Czech Republic last year, Czech
politics wants to take an active part in missile defence, Petracek writes.

Now Czechs can only note that they have merely a minor early warning
centre since their country did not show interest in the radar, he says.

It is not Obama who is to blame but the Czechs themselves. Poland and
Romania will have interceptor missiles, Turkey will have a radar, and the
Czech Republic two military computers, Petracek writes.

What a nice result of a classical Czech compromise: how to participate in
the American missile defence shield, but not to get dirty from it, he
says.

The Social Democrats (CSSD (Czech Social Democratic Party)) improve their
financial situation to the detriment of the state budget, Martin Jasminsky
writes in Hospodarske noviny ab out the leases of offices for lower house
deputies.

A number of CSSD MPs lease offices in buildings owned by their party and,
surprisingly, they pay the highest price that the state covers for the
lease, Jasminsky recalls.

The Social Democrats do not mind that offices can be leased for lower
prices elsewhere, he says.

CSSD acting chairman Bohuslav Sobotka this is not against the ethical code
that does not allow for leasing offices in the homes of MPs or in the
homes of their relatives, Jasminsky writes.

He recalls that Sobotka "ethically" saved all the money he received as
perks that were to cover various services he was to use as an MP and
bought a flat with it.

It is perhaps no big surprise that the Czech military intelligence has
continued to use spies who worked for it under the communist regime, Ludek
Navara writes in Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) in connection to some 380 leaked
names of former Czechoslovak intelligence agents.

What worse can happen to a spy than that his name will become known? A
revealed spy is of no use, Navara writes.

Experts say revealing of a spy may threaten his life and also the
interests of the state. Maybe. And maybe not, Navara says.

But it can surely threaten the trust of the public in the state and its
secret services. Why are these services called secret when they are not
capable of staying secret? Navara asks in MfD.

(Description of Source: Prague Czech Happenings in English -- Internet
magazine with focus on political and economic reporting, published by CTK
subsidiary Neris; URL: http://www.ceskenoviny.cz)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
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52) Back to Top
Czech Communists Plan Protests Against Proposed NATO MD Early Warning
Center
Report by "jov": "KSCM and Activists Are Against [Early Warning Center],
Planning New Protests" - Pravo Online
Monday August 2, 2010 14:24:26 GMT
Another reason why the Communists do not like the plan is that, according
to Filip, the Czech Republic bears a responsibility for the development of
the strategic arms reduction treaty (START) concluded in Prague between
the United States and Russia.

Filip also disagrees with the interpretation that the consent of
parliament will not be necessary in the case of the installation of an
early warning center against missiles. He considers that this cannot be
decided only by the government. "This cannot be done by the executive
alone," he said on the grounds that this is a case of deploying a foreign
army on our terri tory.

The Communists are planning protests. "Of course in such a case we are
going to renew our activities and also our cooperation with civic
initiatives that campaigned against the locating of a radar," declared
Filip.

Activists from the anti-radar civic initiative No to Bases have come out
sharply against the installation of an early warning center. Its spokesman
Jan Majicek said that they are going to prepare protests in connection
with the implementation of this project.

"This project, which is being justified in the same way as the rejected
radar, lacks any kind of sense. Iran is neither capable of, nor interested
in, attacking Europe. It is similarly nonsensical to use the "Russian
threat" as an argument, especially when Moscow and Washington have agreed
on this facility," said Majicek.

The No to Bases initiative objects to the fact that the facility is
supposed to be built without the necessity of parliame nt voting on in.
"Even though Prime Minister Necas has said that there were continued
negotiations about involving the Czech Republic even after the
cancellation of the plan for building a radar base, none of the coalition
parties gave any information about this before the election," communicated
the activists, who also object to the fact that the Czech Republic may
share in paying the cost of the project. They also criticize the fact that
so far this is a case of a bilateral matter between the Czech Republic and
the United States.

(Description of Source: Prague Pravo Online in Czech -- Website of
independent, center-left daily with good access to social democratic
policy makers; known as the best-informed daily; URL:
http://pravo.novinky.cz)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of Co
mmerce.

53) Back to Top
Editorial Wants Parliament Take Notice of Issuance of Visas to US Men
Editorial: Intriguing issue of mysterious Pak visas - Pakistan Observer
Online
Monday August 2, 2010 12:00:26 GMT
PAKISTAN has finally issued more than 400 multiple visas to US defence and
security officials that the Americans insist were required for staff
dealing with projects being implemented with their assistance. The visa
issue had been a cause of contention between Pakistan and United States
for the past about eight months because Islamabad had concerns over such a
large number of Americans presence in the country.

The report by our Special Correspondent about the issuance of visas to
such a large number of officials, which is substantiated by highly
reliable sources, is indeed very intriguing. Otherwise too we believe
there is lot of substance in the report because in the past too similar
stories had originated and in some cases Islamabad had to grant visas in a
mysterious way with the intervention from highups, which were earlier
refused. What is noteworthy is that some personnel who were granted visas
under diplomatic cover had worked for the intelligence agencies and even
some had connections with the much maligned Blackwater. Pakistan fears
that the United States is increasing its intelligence presence in the
country by sending more and more officials. Washington had blamed
Islamabad of deliberately slowing down the process of granting visas to
its diplomats, and in response it also held back travel documents of
several Pakistani officials. In the past these personnel moved in
suspicious manner in Islamabad, Lahore and other cities and when the
police, deployed at pickets to check arms, stopped them they used
threatening language. The Government was under tremendous pressure to stop
such acts of high handedness by the Americans. It is alleged that Pakistan
is being turned into a colony where Washington is calling the shots. The
Government, it is known, issued the visas after the visit of Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton in an effort to placate an angry Washington, which
had linked the visas issue with the release of committed development
assistance and the deferred Coalition Support Fund reimbursements. What is
more worrisome is that no one takes notice of these developments and there
is total lack of concern about protection of Pakistan's supreme national
interests. It is an open secret that the American intelligence agencies
use private security contractors and officials deployed on civilian
projects to gather intelligence and this is very alarming particularly in
the present situation in Pakistan which we do not want to go into details.
Naturally the Government has some limitations but what has gone wrong with
the Parliament as no voice is being raised over such a large number of
posting of Americans. Media too is engaged in hackneyed issues, which are
of not much significance and is not making it an issue to highlight its
repercussions for Pakistan.

(Description of Source: Islamabad Pakistan Observer Online in English --
Website of the pro-military daily with readership of 5,000. Anti-India,
supportive of Saudi policies, strong supporter of Pakistan's nuclear and
missile program. Chief Editor Zahid Malik is the author of books on
nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan; URL: http://www.pakobserver.net)

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source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
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54) Back to Top
Group in Mexico Supports Stand of DPRK Army, People
KCNA headline: "Stand of DPRK Army And People Supported in Mexico" - KCNA
Tuesday August 3, 2010 04:11:31 GMT
organizations including the People's Socialist Party of Mexico and the
Mexico-Korea Friendship Association released a joint statement on July 25
in support of the statement issued by a spokesman for the DPRK National
Defence Commission "DPRK will foil the reckless military provocations of
the aggressors through its own style powerful deterrent actions."

The statement vehemently condemned the U.S. imperialists and the south
Korean puppet authorities' escalating reckless military provocations as a
blatant challenge to the international community denying the "story about
the north's involvement" in the warship "Ch'o'nan (Cheonan)" case and
hoping for defusing the tension on the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful ma
nner and as actions running counter to the intention of the U.N.It is
quite natural for the army and people of the DPRK to start a retaliatory
sacred war based on powerful nuclear deterrent for self-defence any time
deemed necessary in order to deter the U.S. imperialists and the South
Korean puppet forces from deliberately pushing the situation to the brink
of war, it stressed.The statement supported the just stand of the army and
people of the DPRK which declared that they would take all steps to the
last to thoroughly probe the truth about the fabrication and charade
cooked up by the U.S. imperialists and the South Korean puppet forces and
strongly demanded the chief architects of the case respond without delay
to the proposal of the DPRK NDC for sending its inspection group for field
investigation in South Korea.It called on the political parties,
governments and organizations of the world to create international
atmosphere of chiding the U.S. imperialists and the South Korean puppet
forces for faking up the "Ch'o'nan (Cheonan)" case, a sheer fabrication
and charade orchestrated by them, and extend positive support to the army
and people of the DPRK in their struggle to defend the security of the
country and the dignity and honor of the nation.(Description of Source:
Pyongyang KCNA in English -- Official DPRK news agency. URL:
http://www.kcna.co.jp)

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55) Back to Top
PTI Chief Alleges CIA Created Al-Qaida, Pakistan Facing its Brunt
Report by staff correspondent: Al-Qaeda a product of CIA: Imran - The
News Online
Monday August 2, 2010 11:23:36 GMT
KASUR: Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan has termed al-Qaeda a
product of the CIA and said Pakistan was facing its brunt.

Addressing PTI workers and newsmen at a local hotel on Sunday, Imran said
no Pakistani was involved in the 9/11 incident but more than 500 blasts
had taken place in Pakistan since the attacks on the US. He criticised the
remarks of UK Prime Minister David Cameron and said it was not for the
first time that such remarks were made.

"Our rulers lack self respect to counter such remarks." He said he was
amazed that under such circumstances, President Asif Ali Zardari still
wanted to visit the UK. He said PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif and other
politicians were silent on the issue as they had assets in the UK and
other countries.

Imran said the government would not complete its tenure. He said the fate
of the masses would not change unless there was an economic justice in the
country. Abo ut half of the country's population was living below the
poverty line, forcing the people to indulge in crime sand corruption,
while the rulers were busy in plundering the national exchequer in the
name of privatisation, he added.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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56) Back to Top
North Repositions Ar tillery: Sources - JoongAng Daily Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 01:00:31 GMT
(JOONGANG ILBO) - North Korea is repositioning its arsenal near the South
Korean border in an attempt to make it more difficult for long-range
artillery fire to inflict significant damage on its resources, according
to intelligence sources.

The sources told the JoongAng Ilbo on Sunday that the North Korean
military is relocating its long-range artillery fire, which is set up in
mountain caves, from near the southern gate of the caves to the northern
gate. The North is also building a protective cover over the facility, the
sources said."Over several years, South Korea and the United States have
prepared against the threat from North Korean long-range artillery fire,"
said a military official. "As far as I know, the North Korean military is
taking measures to improve the chances that its lo ng-range artillery fire
will survive (an attack from the South) by repositioning them inside the
(caves)."Another source said if artillery were relocated to the back of
the caves, the South Korea-U.S. alliance would have trouble
counterattacking a North Korean attack and hitting the North Korean
long-range artillery fire with K9 (155-millimeter) artillery and a
multiple launch rocket system.Only a Joint Direct Attack Munition (a kind
of smart bomb) or missiles dropped from a combat plane could destroy the
long-range artillery fire moved to the rear, the second source said,
adding that it would significantly limit the ways Seoul and Washington
could respond to an attack.The protective cover the North is setting up is
meant to counter cluster bombs, the second source said. Cluster bombs are
air-dropped weapons that eject a cluster of smaller bombs. The sources
said the South Korean military is considering developing new weapons that
could destroy this cover.North Korea's long-range artillery fire, either a
240-millimeter caliber multiple-launch rocket system or a 170-millimeter
self-propelled artillery, claim an effective range of 55 to 65 kilometers
(34 to 40 miles). According to the South Korean Defense White Paper and
other military data, about 600 such North Korean munitions have been set
up near the border, posing a significant threat to Seoul.(Description of
Source: Seoul JoongAng Daily Online in English -- Website of
English-language daily which provides English-language summaries and
full-texts of items published by the major center-right daily JoongAng
Ilbo, as well as unique reportage; distributed as an insert to the Seoul
edition of the International Herald Tribune; URL:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com)

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57) Back to Top
UN Rejects Uganda's Proposal for Retaliatory Action Against Somali Rebels
Report by Michael Wakabi and Charles Kazooba: "Keep Peace! Don't Enforce
It, AU Tells Amisom, Uganda" - The East African Online
Monday August 2, 2010 10:36:45 GMT
(Description of Source: Nairobi The East African Online in English --
Website of the weekly (Monday) English-language newspaper published by the
Nation Media Group; coverage is primarily concentrated on Kenya, Tanzania,
and Uganda but includes other regions as well; URL:
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/)

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58) Back to Top
DHR, Civic Society Announce To Protest Against Aafia, Missing People
"Announcement of March From Lahore to Parliament House on 7 August for
Aafia's Release, Recovery of Missing People" -- SANA headline - Nawa-e
Waqt
Monday August 2, 2010 10:38:48 GMT
Siddiqui's release and recovery of 10,000 missing persons, and the
terrorism policy being pursued at US orders should be immediately
abandoned; otherwise, people will come out on roads and will drive the US
soldiers out of the country. These views were expressed by speakers at the
demonstration organized by Defense of Human Rights (DHR) and Civic Society
at GPO Chowk (square), Lahore. DHR Chairperson Amna Masud; Raja
Zulkurnain, Supreme Court Bar Association secretary general; Dr Sabiha
Al-Mashraqi, chairpers on of Khaksar Tehreek and Ahmed Owais and Mian
Wahid, lawyer leaders, addressed the protestors.

Earlier, a meeting of DHR Chairperson Amna Masud and lawyers was held,
which decided that lawyers would stage protest demonstration, on 7 August,
for Dr Aafia's release and recovery of more than 10,000 missing people,
marching on foot from Lahore to Parliament House. Here, lawyers leader
Syed Azhar Hussain Advocate will stage protest demonstration in front of
Parliament House and present a memorandum.

The protestors were carrying placards in their hands. Slogans about Dr
Aafia's release, recovery of missing people and end to the US occupation
of Pakistan were inscribed on the placards. A protest camp had also been
set up. Here, addressing the demonstrators, Raja Zulkarnain, Amna Masud
Janjua, Dr Sabiha Al-Mashraqi, and other leaders called on the rulers to
build pressure on the US Administration for the release of Dr Aafia, who
is daughter of the nation, making diplo matic efforts at the
international-level for this purpose.

The speakers called for calling back the Armed Forces from the Pakistani
tribal areas. They said that the drone attacks were attacks on Pakistan's
sovereignty and integrity and they should be immediately stopped.

(Description of Source: Rawalpindi Nawa-e Waqt in Urdu -- Privately owned,
widely read, conservative Islamic daily, with circulation around 125,000.
Harshly critical of the US and India.)

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59) Back to Top
Russian deputy PM Sechin apparently in charge of relations with BP -
Interfax
Monday August 2, 2010 13:22:29 GMT
BP

Text of report by corporate-owned Russian news agency InterfaxCheremushki
village (Khakassia), 2 August: Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin
intends to meet new head of BP Robert Dudley. "Robert Dudley and I will
certainly be holding a meeting," he told Interfax today.Dudley will take
over the management of BP on 1 October. Current BP head Tony Hayward will
be nominated as a member of the TNK-BP board. Sechin was the first Russian
official to announce Hayward's resignation, even before the decision was
officially announced by the BP board. At the end of June, prior to
Hayward's visit to Moscow, Sechin told journalists that the head of BP was
leaving his position and intended to introduce his successor. "We know
that Hayward is leaving office and will introduce his successor," Sechin
said.(Description of Source: Moscow Interfax in Russian -- Nonofficial
information agency known for its extensive and detai led reporting on
domestic and international issues)

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60) Back to Top
Pakistan Tehrik-e- Insaaf Chief Terms Al-Qai'da as Product of CIA
Report by staff reporters: "Imran slams Zardari for visiting UK" - The
Nation Online
Monday August 2, 2010 09:11:31 GMT
LAHORE/KASUR - Former president Pervez Musharraf cannot return to Pakistan
as long as Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is the Chief Justice of Pakistan,
says PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

He expressed these views while addressing a news conference at his
residence on Sunday.

Imran also announced launching of a four-point countrywide campaign
against politicians' tax evasion and concealment of sources of income,
assets inside the country and abroad.

He said he would contact the public for building pressure on the corrupt
politicians who possess undisclosed assets abroad, hide assets inside the
country, foreign accounts and evaded taxes.

He said he would get signatures from the masses on this four-point agenda
campaign, which was meant to stress the corrupt elements to bring back the
looted national wealth back to the country.

Imran said Musharraf had tried to gag the free judiciary in Pakistan and
under current circumstances when country had a free judiciary, Musharraf
would not dare to come back.

He said it was mockery of the nation that country's leaders put up at
five-star hotels in London but they were not paying taxes, whereas the
nation was made to pay the taxes to finance the government.

Imran said it was strange that an ordi nary rickshaw driver pays more
taxes than PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif who himself lived in a luxury
residence.

About President Asif Zardari's visit to London, he demanded that Zardari
should immediately end the 'holiday trip' to England. Imran said that the
cost of one-day international tour of the President and the Prime Minister
was Rs2.5 million.

He said payments for the adjustment of international loans of Pakistan
were equal to all the tax collections in the country.

Regarding the wave of terrorism in the country, he claimed that PTI, if
voted to power, could end terrorism from the country in 90 days by holding
dialogue with the estranged segments of the population, as the elements
fighting against our security forces were of the view that Pakistani
security forces were fighting America's war on terror.

Meanwhile, Ali Husnanin Shah, Hafeez Baloch, general secretary PML-N Youth
Force, Okara and Gulzar Mashhadi, a pioneer member of PPP announced t o
join PTI, besides reposing complete confidence in the leadership of Imran
Khan.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan said that Al-Qaeda is the product of CIA but
Pakistan is reaping the bitter harvest.

He was talking to PTI workers and media persons at a local hotel in Kasur.
He said that no Pakistani was involved in 9/11 incident but Pakistan had
to face consequences in the form of loss of $50 billion and more than
40,000 lives were lost.

Imran said Al-Qaeda trained by CIA was based in Afghanistan but Pakistan
was being targeted and it was suffering.

He said the remarks passed by British PM were an insult to Pakistan and it
was not for the first time that such remarks had been passed. He said he
was amazed that under such circumstances President Zardari wanted to visit
UK. He said Nawaz Sharif was silent on the issue as he like other
politicians had assets in other countries and wanted to save them.

Answering a question, he said that the extension in t he tenure of Army
Chief reflects that in Pakistan persons were stronger than the
institutions. Responding to another question, he said that corrupt and
criminal people were in the parliament and should be held answerable for
their fake degrees.

He said that electricity theft in the country was with the connivance of
the PEPCO and not a single official had been terminated so far while the
public was paying the price of electricity theft. He said that NAB was not
playing its vital role in unveiling the corruption of people present in
the corridors of power.

Imran said that he did not see the government to complete its tenure and
added that if mid-term elections were held, PTI would be the direct
beneficiary .

He said his government would help NATO forces to withdraw from Afghanistan
and hold negotiations with Taliban. This would help Pakistan to expel the
terrorists that were attacking our mosques and other worship places, he
added.

Imran claimed th at in the next general elections, he would clean bowled
both Nawaz and Zardari.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The Nation Online in English -- Website
of a conservative daily, part of the Nawa-i-Waqt publishing group.
Circulation around 20,000; URL: http://www.nation.com.pk)

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61) Back to Top
Spanish daily slams 'juicy' payouts to outgoing BP boss - El Pais.com
Monday August 2, 2010 12:11:25 GMT
boss

Text of editorial: "Juicy 'dismissal'", by Spanish popular centre-left
newspaper El Pais website, on 2 AugustThe crisis over the oil spill age in
the Gulf of Mexico has cost BP's chief executive, Tony Hayward, his post.
In reality, that is all, given that he will receive a juicy compensation
package for his resignation as head of the company, as well as a pension
fund equivalent to 11m euros. Nor will he abandon the sector, moving on to
run other BP activities. The acceptance of responsibility for the leakage
is thus transformed into personal financial gain which more closely
resembles a reward than a penalty.On 20 April, the explosion and sinking
of the Deepwater Horizon rig, owned by Transocean although rented by BP,
caused 11 deaths and an oil spill estimated at 53,000 barrels a day. It
was not an accident like others: unlike the sinking of oil tankers, the
ecological disaster was continuous until BP finally found a way of
bringing it under control. These were more than sufficient reasons for the
hitherto chief executive of BP to admit the gravity of what had happened
and avoid frivolity in his appearances. Hayward did exactly the opposite,
setting himself against public opinion all over the world and also against
the Obama Administration.BP announced losses to the tune of millions as a
result of providing funds to cover compensation for the leak. As in the
case of Hayward, this is more dramatic a setback in appearance than in
reality. The announcement of losses will represent for it a fiscal saving
which, ultimately, will place a substantial part of the cost of the spill
on taxpayers. The response to the environmental disaster does not differ,
broadly, from that made to the financial disaster from the summer of 2007
onwards: that of transferring the losses onto the public, when the profits
were concentrated in just a few hands during the bonanza and also when the
crisis broke out.It is not a question of giving free reign to populism
against the system of rewards and compensation of all kinds with which the
executives of large companies protect themselves, but rather of revisin g
a system which first prompts excessively risky decisions and then softens
the calling to account when things go wrong, to the extent of turning it
into an exercise in accountancy - with, of course, extremely high
profitability for those undertaking it.Apart from an ecological disaster,
the leak in the Gulf of Mexico has become a major problem for the United
States president. In any country other than the world's main power, the
government would have encountered serious difficulties in forcing a
company like BP to accept its responsibility. Drilling rigs like the
Deepwater Horizon exist everywhere and consequently so does the risk of
similar accidents. Among the many lessons of this spillage, this is not
one of the least significant.(Description of Source: Madrid El Pais.com in
Spanish -- Website of El Pais, center-left national daily; URL:
http//www.elpais.com)

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62) Back to Top
Sutyagin Not Giving Up Hope of Returning to Russia - Brother - Interfax
Monday August 2, 2010 10:36:46 GMT
MOSCOW. Aug 2 (Interfax) - Russian researcher Igor Sutyagin expelled to
Britain in exchange for the Russians arrested in the United States is
settling down in London but thinks about returning home."By now contacts
have been established more or less. We communicate regularly. Everything
is alright with him," his brother Dmitry Sutyagin told Interfax.He said
the researcher does not think of employment yet. "That's unclear so far.
What sense is it to get a job, if he decides to return here," the brother
said.Earlier he said that Igor Sutyagin moved to his friends in London and
bought a phone to contact his family.The Moscow City Court sentenced
Sutyagin, former head of the military-technical and military-economic
policy sector of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of U.S. and
Canada Studies, to 15 years in a maximum security penitentiary on April 7,
2004. The court found him guilty of espionage, and the Supreme Court
upheld the sentence. The jurors unanimously pronounced him guilty of
passing secret information to U.S. military intelligence officers acting
under the disguise of the British consulting company Alternative Futures
in 1998-1999.President Dmitry Medvedev pardoned 20 people, among them
Sutyagin, Alexander Zaporozhsky, Sergei Skripal and Gennady Vasilenko, in
early July. The four men were swapped for ten Russians seized in the
United States on espionage charges.Sutyagin and former reserve colonel of
the Main Intelligence Department Sergei Skripal were moved to the UK after
they had bee n pardoned by the Russian president and swapped for suspected
spies.Sutyagin and Skripal were brought from Moscow to Vienna by plane on
July 9. A plane belonging to U.S. carrier Vision Airlines took them
aboard. The jet made a stopover in the UK and later headed for Washington
DC.ml dp(Our editorial staff can be reached at
eng.editors@interfax.ru)Interfax-950040-RBGXCBAA

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63) Back to Top
US Man Killed Motorcyclist in Capital Road Mishap Still at Large
Report by Shakeel Anjum: The American arrogance and a poor Pakistani
soul - The News Online
Monday August 2, 2010 06:04:39 GMT
Islamabad: A concealed vehicle at Aabpara Police Station in the midst of
Islamabad, paints a horrific picture that how ruthlessly an American
national riding an expensive Prado killed a poor motorcyclist in the broad
daylight and then left the scene without any repentance or remorse a
couple of days ago.

Such sudden, speedy and forceful was the impact that instead of being
pushed away or run over by the vehicle after the collision, the motorcycle
after being hit by the vehicle from behind, pierced the front of the
vehicle in upright position and was sort of assimilated in its body. The
driver of the vehicle could have stopped and tried to rescue the
critically injured person by taking him to the hospital, but he preferred
to run away from the scene instead.

To his bad fortune, a Pakistani driver of another vehicle chased the
American national up to his residence and then informed the police
accordingly. Police was thus left with no choice, b ut to raid the house
and recover the vehicle from there. The vehicle was shifted to Aabpara
Police Station and a sheet was put on it supposedly to conceal from the
general public that how ruthlessly one of their countrymen was killed by
someone belonging to the of sole superpower of the world. Now the big
question is what happened to the US national? 'Nothing' would be a safe
guess. He may or may not be having a diplomatic status. If he is not a
diplomat then he can be prosecuted against under the law of the land on
the charges of manslaughter. There is also a possibility that he may be
having a diplomatic status. In such case, our own government would try to
justify its inaction and apathy on the grounds of diplomatic immunity.

When asked about the available course of action, a barrister with special
interest in International Law, informed that diplomatic immunity is
regulated by Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961. He further
stated that there is no expre ss provision in the Convention, which deals
with vehicular accidents. However, over the time it has become an
established principle that no immunity would be extended to diplomats in
such matters. If ever such an incident happens, either the sending state
withdraws the diplomatic immunity of its agent and thus subjects him to
local laws of the host state or calls him back and prosecutes as per its
own laws.

(Description of Source: Islamabad The News Online in English -- Website of
a widely read, influential English daily, member of the Jang publishing
group. Neutral editorial policy, good coverage of domestic and
international issues. Usually offers leading news and analysis on issues
related to war against terrorism. Circulation estimated at 55,000; URL:
http://www.thenews.com.pk/)

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64) Back to Top
Government Moving To Deal With Declining Reserves
CMC Headline: "TRINIDAD-ENERGY-Government Moving To Deal With Declining
Reserves" - CMC
Monday August 2, 2010 20:58:38 GMT
(Description of Source: Bridgetown CMC in English -- regional news service
run by the Caribbean Media Corporation)

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65) Back to Top
Caribbean Nationals Found Guilty of Terrorist Charges
CMC Headline: "URGENT-UNITED STATES-TERORISM- Caribbean Nationals Found
Guilty of Terrorist Charges" - CMC
Monday August 2, 2010 20:42:20 GMT
(Description of Source: Bridgetown CMC in English -- regional news service
run by the Caribbean Media Corporation)

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66) Back to Top
Experts Urge Net-Based Approach to Army Command, Relations With Society
Article by Sergey Melkov and Oleg Zabuzov under the "Realities" rubric:
"Initiative Online and Offline. Virtual Wars and Real Problems" -
Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye Online
Mo nday August 2, 2010 17:33:05 GMT
irreplaceable in modern warfare. Photo: Reuters About the authors: Sergey
Anatolyevich Melkov -- expert with the Association of Military Analysts.
Oleg Nikolayevich Zabuzov -- candidate of political sciences, expert with
the Association of Military Analysts.

Russia's current military-political leadership is undertaking a quest for
the Armed Forces of the future. Specifically, the president of Russia has
set the task of digitizing the Armed Forces' communications systems.
Information on the emergence of information troops in Russia's Armed
Forces -- which no country in the world yet has -- appeared a year ago on
the site "Ossetia: Vladikavkaz and Tskhinval" (

http://www.1-o.ru www.1-o.ru). The argument in favor of their
establishment was the urgent necessity not to repeat the events of August
2008, which showed the value of "correctly" delivered informati on. Army
and Networks "Not Compatible"?

We are curious to hear the opinion of the state and Defense Ministry
leaderships on the missions information troops are to perform. The key
question: Are they to engage in 1) -- information support
(informatizatsiya) for military activity; 2) -- cyberspace warfare; 3) --
influencing public opinion?

In the first instance it is a question of the troops' high-volume
provision with the latest systems for communication and control, and for
the automation and computerization (kompyuterizatsiya) of internal army
relationships. There is no need to create special troops for this.

Secondly, we are evidently talking about information warfare, for which
these troops are to train and which they are to wage constantly. In this
instance specialized military structures are needed. In the third instance
we are talking about a system of subunits, institutions, and channels
influencing the information area with a view to molding a positive public
opinion of Russia and its Armed Forces. But it is not obligatory to create
"troops" in order to influence the mass consciousness. There are more
flexible structures and mechanism in existence that permit the successful
achievement of objectives in the information area. We have in mind global
and local networks, the mass media, and communication with the public. Is
this idea applicable to the army? Many people in Russia believe that one
of the most hierarchical structures of any society is its army.
Constructed according to the principle of one-man command, it constitutes
a fairly rigid system of vertical command incorporating elements of
hierarchical command and control, such as strict subordination to an
immediate superior, orders, and so forth. Internally, that is to say, the
system of Armed Forces command and control has from the outset been far
removed from the network, distributed principle. Much is changing,
however... In Step With Toffler?

The armies of many countries are making active use of net-based principles
and mechanisms in their state-of-the-art command and control systems. And
the point here is not so much the quantity of computers and other
automated devices. The main thing is that, with net-based command and
control, every soldier and commander is seen as a subject of military
activity possessing some considerable degree of freedom in the
accomplishment of his assigned mission.

There are examples of the application of net-based systems in the field.
During the last 10 years the Pentagon has been planning and putting into
effect changes in strategy relating to net-centric warfare. Over a
protracted period of time (through 2030) the entire US Army is to be
reorganized into what is designated the Objective Force. Key concepts for
the reform are strategic mobility, information superiority, reduced
logistics dependency, endurance, and the capability for combat utiliz
ation within a "system of systems."

Nor is the FRG lagging behind: With one of Europe's most
performance-capable armies, Germany is participating actively in CD&amp;E
(Concept Development and Experimentation) processes. Revolutionary
developments in information technology are making possible the rapid and
secure collection, transmission, and processing of a large volume of
information. In the opinion of the German military, this also means
mastery of the information area. The information factor is incorporated in
mission planning in terms of the net-centric command and control of
operations, enabling armed forces, on the basis of extensive and current
information, to conduct combat actions successfully, swiftly, and
accurately with the minimum of personnel.

As we can see, at the doctrinal level the world's modern armies are
actively analyzing and introducing networks and network principles. What
Does Applying Net-Based Systems Mean in Practice ?

First and foremost this means utilizing the capabilities of the Internet.
It is the Internet that enables modern peacetime armies to provide a
net-centric information base when organizing and conducting combat
operations. So, we know that NASA has begun work on creating an
interplanetary Internet and that an Internet-based information field will
soon embrace not only the entire surface of the planet but immediate
interplanetary space also. Tests of the capacity to inhabit a closed area
for a period of time commensurate with a flight to Mars have also begun in
Russia (the Mars500 Program). The leading countries have an interest --
and an interest that is by no means theoretical -- in the conquest of the
nearest planets.

Undoubtedly, introducing the Internet to the field of confrontation
enables the principles and modes of conducting combat operations to be
looked at anew. So, during the Desert Storm operation (1990-1991) the US
Army's swift reaction to s udden crises was made possible by upgrading
information-communication systems and comprehensive network integration.
We recall how, on encountering unexpected resistance, any US Army
commander was able to use his personal notebook to obtain by satellite
effectively online information about the enemy confronting him. Some 118
mobile satellite ground stations were deployed in the Gulf region for this
purpose, supplemented by 12 commercial satellite terminals.

In the view of scientists from a number of countries, the traditional
hierarchical command and control (komandovaniye i upravleniye) retain
their relevance only in armies of the traditional type, distinguished by
their conservatism in the application of previous combat experience. The
problem lies not only in the technical and technological development of
networks but also in the ossified mindset and reluctance of the military
to adapt to the realities of the information society. Certainly, it is not
always con venient to utilize an open network within a defense ministry
and the armed forces, but an isolated network constructed on the same
principles as the Internet (whereby everyone with access to this network
is perceived not as a controlled entity but as a node) is needed by any
armed forces today. The evolution of 802.11 standard wireless networks and
VoiceOverIP technology over the next 10-20 years will lead to the
definitive integration of traditional communications channels and the
Internet, thereby creating a global information environment that satisfies
the criterion "any information anywhere anytime." There is a choice, but
using off-the-shelf networks is cheaper than creating corporate networks.
How To Connect the Army and Society?

Maybe the army has no need of networks in peacetime? But, clearly, just
the opposite is the case. In peacetime, networks (the Internet especially)
are the cheapest means of information transmission. Army outfits lose time
, initiative, and even money if they don't make use of networks. As
Russia's president rightl y remarked at a meeting with United Russia
activists: "...losing the online initiative entails losing the offline
initiative."

But there is also another political dimension to the Internet and
state-of-the-art technologies. President Medvedev believes that "we are
approaching an epoch of the reversion to a certain extent from
representative democracy to immediate, direct democracy, with the help of
the Internet." How far is this thinking on the president's part compatible
with army realities? Of course, the army is an institution of the state
called upon to support the stability of the political system while
simultaneously guaranteeing the country's military security. In other
words, the army should not be perceived as some sort of peculiarly unique
feature of society. It must be subordinated to the interests of society
and the state, while its acti vities must be under political and civilian
control and must be comprehensible to the ordinary citizen.

Let us list the potential areas of the Defense Ministry's information
activity that promote public support.

First, it is advisable to use the Internet's network infrastructure to
surmount the Defense Ministry's segregation from society. There is simply
no more accessible or open means than the Internet. It is axiomatic that
Russian society today needs alternate and at the same time competent
sources of information on the status of the armed forces. We know that a
Public Council has been set up within the Defense Ministry. But is the
Defense Ministry interested in creating, inaugurating, and maintaining yet
another information channel via the Public Council. Apparently not,
because the website of the Public Council under the Ministry of Defense is
located in the domain zone mil.ru, and this, as we know, is the website of
the military department. The Publ ic Council does not at present possess
its own print outlet. The most "recent" events on the Public Council's
website are dated November 2008 -- enough said.

Second, the Internet provides the sole interactive platform for the
Defense Ministry's interaction with the public and with citizens. The
reason is obvious: The Defense Ministry possesses the information required
by them. Our observations indicate that, for citizens, the information in
greatest demand relates to the problem of servicemen's personal safety,
and -- for society -- to the observance of servicemen's rights.

Third, a medium of network communication such as the Internet presents
vast opportunities for the organization of feedback. The Defense Ministry
has its website, but the procedure for the receipt and examination of hits
addressed to the minister by citizens and legal entities via the military
department's official site constitutes a pretty inefficient webform.

The exces sive bureaucracy even in accessing the Defense Ministry via the
site appears anachronistic and clumsy (it is unclear in the given instance
how citizens' electronic requests differ from their written equivalents).
Organization of this sort means that all the Internet's advantages in
terms of the prompt and effective presentation of information of interest
to citizens or other interested public groups and organizations are lost.

What proposals can we make to Russia's military department?

1. It is advisable to enhance the role of prompt, news-type information on
the Defense Ministry site.

2. One factor in increasing trust in the Defense Ministry within society
is enhanced accessibility to information on the expenditure of items of
the military budget. How many people will be able to read information of
that sort in print? The Internet aside, where can this information be
regarded as really accessible?

(For information purposes: The US Defense D epartment's website supports a
separate site for information on items of the military budget. It contains
military budget data not just for the last three years but for the
branches of service and the combat arms a lso. Items of the budget
relating to other Defense Department expenditure are presented as separate
data: peacekeeping operations, scientific research, R&amp;D, and so forth.
See

http://www.defense.gov/ www.defense.gov, for example.)

3. It is advisable to simplify individual areas of the Defense Ministry
site, switching to problem-oriented resources that do not require special
knowledge on the user's part.

4. The Defense Ministry site must be transformed into an information
portal. It is advisable to authorize the branches of service, the combat
arms, and the military education establishments to have their own sites.
Decentralization of this sort will subsequently permit the creation of
sites in strategic formations (formations). It is possible to go further
in this matter: to formulate centrally standardized Internet-site
templates, which will eliminate the technical problem for the formations,
strategic formations, and Defense Ministry educational establishments.
This sort of Internet distribution will enable citizens to address in a
more targeted manner the issues that interest them (rather than the
military administrative agencies).

5. The Internet enables the Defense Ministry site to host discussion
forums and conferences. Given the total absence of this sort of operation
on mil.ru, we would mention that back in 1996 the Bundeswehr made
provision for the possibility of conducting such discussions. One of these
is

http://www.bundeswehr.de/ www.bundeswehr.de, with a page containing links
to popular social networks. Why not create a similar page on "Classmates,"
for instance, or "In Contact"?

In conclusion, we would observe that military reform is cont inuing in
Russia, although not without problems. However, without introducing
network foundations into military command and control and into the army's
relationship with society, success will hardly be guaranteed. It is not
necessary for us to create new information troops but to apply the new
network principles and information technologies.

The old principles of command and control and information delivery and the
strict hierarchical structure have outlived their usefulness both in
modern societies and in their armed forces. But has the problem been
understood in this precise key in our country?

(Description of Source: Moscow Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye Online in
Russian -- Website of weekly military newspaper published by Remchukov's
Nezavisimaya Gazeta; URL: http://nvo.ng.ru/)

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67) Back to Top
US, UK Groups Assail Anti-DPRK 'War Maneuvers'
KCNA headline: "Anti-DPRK War Moves Assailed" - KCNA
Monday August 2, 2010 07:50:11 GMT
(Description of Source: Pyongyang KCNA in English -- Official DPRK news
agency. URL: http://www.kcna.co.jp)

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68) Back to Top
Iran gas exports to Bahrain still on - envoy - Press TV Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 02:51:37 GMT
Text of report in English by Iranian news channel Press TV website on 2
AugustIran's gas exports to Bahrain will not be affected by the recent UN
sanctions against Tehran, says the Iranian ambassador to Bahrain."The
booming trade between Iran and Bahrain is not affected by the UN
sanctions," Mehr news Agency quoted Hoseyn Amir Abdollahian as saying on
Monday (2 August)."The UN Security Council sanctions against Iran do not
cover the export of Iran's gas to Bahrain," he said.Iran has the world's
second largest natural gas reserves after Russia - around 15 per cent of
the world's total proven reserves. The reserves include an estimated 974
trillion cubic feet of natural gas.Following the June 9 UN Security
Council resolution, the US and EU imposed unilateral sanctions against
Iran over its nuclear programme, mainly targeting the country's energy and
banking sectors.Washington will deny acces s to US markets for those
companies that supply Tehran with refined petroleum products.The EU
measures include a ban on the sale of equipment, technology and services
to Iran's energy sector, hitting activities in refining, liquefied natural
gas, exploration and production. New investments in the energy sector are
also banned.Abdollahian said Israel was the main driving force for
anti-Iran measures, adding that Tel Aviv was disseminating an "Iranophobia
scenario.""While it is very unlikely that a war is waged in the region,
Iran is ready to combat any threats," the Iranian diplomat said, adding,
"Israel will uproot itself if it dares to nurture the thought of an attack
on Iran."(Description of Source: Tehran Press TV Online in English --
website of Tehran Press TV, 24-hour English-language news channel of
Iranian state-run television officially controlled by the office of the
supreme leader; www.presstv.ir)

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69) Back to Top
FYI -- Iranian Al-Alam TV Views US Threat To Attack Iran - Al-Alam
Television
Monday August 2, 2010 19:33:48 GMT
regular "With the Event" program which discussed the statements made by US
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) Admiral Michael Mullen on US
plans to attack Iran over its nuclear program. Program presenter in
Al-Alam studio in Beirut Fu'ad al-Kharsa put forward a number of
questions, including the reasons behind US threats to use military force
against Iran. He wondered whether Mullen's threats were meant to be a
message to reassure Israel following the recent visit by Israel's defense
minister to the Pentagon. He also asked whether the threats aim to force
Iran to show flexibility and make concessions. And how will Washington
understand Iran's response that any US adventure would expose the security
of the Persian Gulf to danger and would set Tel Aviv ablaze?

Al-Kharsa presented his guests to discuss the topic as: in the studio
lecturer in Paris's Political Science Institute Jean Pierre Millili (as
transliterated); via satellite in Tehran expert in national security
affairs Mohammad Sadeq Hoseyni; and via satellite in Washington writer and
political analyst Dr Fawzi al-Asmar.Fu'ad al-Kharsa then summed up
statements made by Admiral Michael Mullen and by Iranian officials.Jean
Pierre said in his view pressure on Iran had "increased as it seems that
the US officials want to tighten their grip around the throat of Iranian
leaders through various means. They include these statements, pressure
and, perhaps, some sa botage attacks inside or outside Iran." He added
that "some Iranian leaders do not seem to take these statements
seriously".Hoseyni said the US approach "resembles the approach they took
to deal with Serbia. The way they dealt with Serbia was to gradually
tighten the grip around the throat of this country to force it to make
vital concessions. However, they ignore the fact that Iran is not Serbia.
Iran is a continent and is linked to the lifeline of the Western world and
of the whole world. It can control important passageways from the Hormuz
Straits until Bab al-Mandab, where it can block trade and cut the lifeline
to the West. This West is not alone in this world and cannot play a
unilateral role. Meanwhile, the moment it resorted to economic sanctions
means several issues: First the party which resorted to sanctions is
either incapable of igniting war or is scared of the consequences of the
war because if a war is started it will not have a happy end. Second, the
same party hopes to use time to force the other party to negotiate. The
Iranian side is aware of this fact and sees it as a serious matter, but it
is also serious in preparing itself to confront this scenario."Al-Asmar
said he had no doubt that Mullen consulted President Obama "but as a
military man it was him who spoke about the possibility of a war". He
referred to the way in which Mullen made his war threats: "Mullen said if
Iran acquired the nuclear capability. Iran says it does not want to
acquire nuclear capability, but wants to use nuclear energy for
humanitarian purposes. When Mullen went to Israel nearly a month ago, he
made this statement to (Gabi) Ashkenazi. He wanted to reassure Israel that
the US was against Iran acquiring nuclear capability. When (Ehud) Baraq
came here (Washington) he heard the same statement which was made a month
ago."Jean Pierre said Admiral Mullen did "not express sympathy for the
Iranian people but spoke about the expected consequences of a war in an
unstable region." He added that the most sensitive spots were "Beirut and
the Gaza Strip".Al-Asmar said the main problems faced by the US were that
"first the US public opinion does not want another war after the wars in
Iraq and in Afghanistan. Second, the European states do not agree with the
US on the use of force against Iran. Third, many states have accepted UN
sanctions against Iran but are opposed to sanctions imposed by the
European Union and by the US. This confusion will, no doubt, lead to even
more confusion, which is: What is the alternative if such a war is being
ignited? How can we reassure that the whole Gulf region will not be
involved?No further processing planned.(Description of Source: Tehran
Al-Alam Television in Arabic -- 24-hour Arabic news channel, targetting a
pan-Arab audience, of Iranian state-run television, officially controlled
by the office of the supreme leader)

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70) Back to Top
Xinhua 'Roundup': Abbas Rejects U.S. Request To Set Date for Direct Talks
Without Reference
Xinhua "Roundup" by Saud Abu Ramadan: "Abbas Rejects U.S. Request To Set
Date for Direct Talks Without Reference" - Xinhua
Monday August 2, 2010 17:18:26 GMT
GAZA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday
rejected a U.S. request to set a date for moving to the direct peace
negotiations with Israel without defining an international peace reference
for it, a senior Palestinian official said.

Wassel Abu Yousef, a senior Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO)
official, told Xinhua that David Hale, deputy of U.S. peace envoy George
Mitchell, asked President Mahmoud Abbas during their meeting earlier on
Monday in Ramallah about setting a date for launching the direct
talks."President Abbas informed Hale that he rejects setting any dates or
appointments and reaffirmed the Palestinian position that settlement must
be halted and a peace preference has to be defined before moving to direct
negotiations," said Abu Yousef.He said that the U.S.-Palestinian contacts
and consultations " are still going on to find a way to push forward the
efforts of Senator George Mitchell to ensure the peace process, adding
that Mitchell is scheduled to arrive in the region within the coming few
days.The United States and Israel are pressuring on the Palestinian
National Authority (PNA) to move from the four-month proximity talks,
sponsored by the United States, to the direct peace talks with Israel. The
peace talks have been stalled between the two sides since December
2008.Meanwhile, the PLO executive committee, which held a meeting in
Ramallah chaired by Abbas, announced in a statement issued after the
meeting that it is still sticking to the demand of defining a peace
reference to the talks and halting settlement activities before launching
any direct talks with Israel.Yasser Abed Rabbo, the committee's secretary
general, told a news conference at the end of the meeting that the PLO
executive committee concluded that the only way to ensure the direct
negotiations "is to define a reference for the talks and the complete
cessation of settlement activities.""Our stance of halting settlement,
mainly in East Jerusalem, and defining a reference for the peace talks are
the guarantees that would ensure the negotiations," Abed Rabbo said,
adding " without these guarantees, the talks would be absurd and would
immediately collapse."He added that the PLO executive committee "welcomed
the decision of the Arab League (AL) Committee on the Peace Process, which
decided in Cairo on Thursday to give the Palestinians the opportunity to
decide when to start the direct talks with Israel.""The AL committee
decision and the PLO decision are similar, mainly in the issues of
defining a reference for the direct talks, the complete cessation of
settlement activities, mainly in East Jerusalem, and the establishment of
the independent Palestinian state on the Palestinian territories occupied
in 1967."Abed Rabbo announced that within the upcoming few weeks, "there
will be more Palestinian contacts and debates, mainly during the PLO
Central Council meeting which will be held on September. The PCC is the
highest body that usually convenes to make decisions on substantial
Palestinian issues.Meanwhile, an aide to President Abbas, revealed on
Monday that the PNA is considering holding a three-way meeting that joins
Israeli, Palestinian and United States officials to find a reference for
launching the direct peace talks."Holding a three-way meeting on a low
profile is one of the presented suggestions that the PNA is considering,"
Nemer Hamad told Palestinian Radio "Voice of Palestine," adding "The
Palestinians would welcome a deal with Israel that ends the occupation and
establish the Palestinian state."Earlier on Monday, the Israeli Ha'aretz
Daily reported that the U.S. administration is holding contacts with both
Israel and the Palestinians to hold a three-way meeting on a low profile
to seek a reference and a timetable for the direct negotiations between
Israel and the PNA.The daily reported that in case the PNA accepts the
U.S. proposal, the meeting will be held next week, with the participation
of U.S. peace envoy George Mitchell, Yitzhak Molkho, an aide to Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb
Erekat.&q uot;If Israel accepts to halt settlement, recognize a
Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and solving the
refugees' issue, we will be happy to have such a deal with the Israeli
government," said Hamad, adding "If this doesn't happen, we won't give
Israel the excuse that we are an obstacle for peace."(Description of
Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's official news service for
English-language audiences (New China News Agency))

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71) Back to Top
Sison: Lebanon's Prosperity Driven by Private Sector
"Sison: Lebanon's Prosperity Driven by Private Sector" -- The Daily Star
Headline - The Daily Star Onli ne
Tuesday August 3, 2010 01:31:46 GMT
Tuesday, August 03, 2010

BEIRUT: US Ambassador Michele Sison said on Monday that Lebanon-sprivate
sector 'is the driving force behind the country-sprosperity.''I can easily
say that the Lebanese business community is second to nonein terms of its
level of professionalism, creativity, dynamism andenergy,' the ambassador
said.Sison made these remarks during a lunch hosted by the American
Lebanese Chamberof Commerce at the Le Maillon Restaurant in Achrafieh to
bid her farewell atthe end of her diplomatic mission in Lebanon.Guests at
the lunch included Finance Minister Raya al-Hassan, Labor MinisterBoutros
Harb and Tourism Minister Fady Abboud.The US ambassador stressed that it
was the private sector in this country thatwould ultimately be the
catalyst for action by the government to remove themajor barriers to
investment such as the high cost o f telecoms and electricityand
insufficient intellectual property protection.'Banking, health care, real
estate, tourism, education and other sectorsare all booming due to the
resiliency of Lebanon-s private sector,'Sison said.American Lebanese
Chamber of Commerce President Salim Zeenni said Sison'has worked so hard
for the United States and Lebanon and dedicated hertime to strengthening
the bonds and relations between both countries.'He added that 'the US
government, through its embassy in Beirut, hasoffered extensive assistance
to Lebanon and has been committed to helping itincrease economic growth
and job creation.'Zeenni praised Sison-s role in 'increasing commercial
links betweenthe United States and Lebanon,' saying that 'the US is, once
again,Lebanon-s number one trading partner in 2009 with exports at around
$1.8billion, and we hope it will over $2.1 billion in 2010.' - TheDaily
Star(Description of Source: Beirut The Daily Star Online in English --
Website of the inde pendent daily, The Daily Star; URL:
http://dailystar.com.lb)

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72) Back to Top
Indonesian FM Says DPRK Ready To Rejoin Six-Party Talks on Basis of
'Equality'
Report by Mega Putra Ratya: "Indonesian, North Korean foreign ministers
discuss crisis on Korean peninsula" - detikcom
Tuesday August 3, 2010 03:18:54 GMT
"In essence, we discussed bilateral relations and regional issues,
including cooperation within ASEAN and the global nature of the Korean
peninsula issue," Natalegawa said after the meeting at Pancasila Building
at the Ministry of Fo reign Affairs on Pejambon Road in Jakarta on Monday
(2 August 2010).

Natalegawa stated that Indonesia was steadfastly encouraging the
settlement of the conflict on the Korean peninsula.

"Indonesia is encouraging efforts to revive the six-party talks as a means
to settle various problems on the Korean peninsula," he said.

Natalegawa added that North Korea's return to the six-party talks would be
part of efforts to settle the problems and create a safe situation in the
region.

"In return, this would contribute to the creation of a situation conducive
to the development efforts of countries in the region," he said.

Natalegawa added that North Korea was ready to return to the six-party
talks if there was equality manifested in the recognition of its national
sovereignty.

"What they mean by equality is a very basic principle. They want their
sovereignty respected. Who does not want it? Every country wants it,&q
uot; he said.

The six-party talks are a dialogue for the denuclearization of the Korean
peninsula. The talks involve Russia, China, North Korea, South Korea,
Japan, and the United States.

(Description of Source: Jakarta detikcom in Indonesian -- Independent
internet portal that is updated regularly with fast-breaking national
news. Widely read by urban, educated, middle-class; URL:
http://www.detik.com)

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73) Back to Top
Indonesia Warns DPRK Over Rising Tensions; Urges Restarting Six-Party
Talks
AFP Report: "Indonesia Warns N Korea Over Rising Tensions" - AFP
Monday August 2, 2010 10 :33:44 GMT
(Description of Source: Hong Kong AFP in English -- Hong Kong service of
the independent French press agency Agence France-Presse)

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74) Back to Top
Are We Nearing a Time When Automobiles Are Unfashionable?
"Are We Nearing a Time When Automobiles Are Unfashionable?" -- The Daily
Star Headline - The Daily Star Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 01:31:45 GMT
Tuesday, August 03, 2010

In the modern world, we cherish our freedom and individuality. And,
asautomobile advertisers have long underst ood, few experiences make us
feel moreliberated than a fast ride with the top down.To be modern is to
be mobile. Our economy depends on the free and rapidcirculation of people
and goods, and we have invented transportationtechnologies to suit our
needs. First the railroads moved people and goods atpreviously
unimaginable speeds, while steamships circled the globe. Then, inthe 20th
century, airplanes moved us even faster.For most people, though, mobility
means automobiles. Cars freed rural peoplefrom their isolation, and they
gave city dwellers access to the countryside.The middle classes take their
cars for granted, while the world-s pooraspire to car ownership as a token
and a tool of advancement.But is our modern mobility sustainable? We are
facing an energy crisis, aclimate crisis, and an economic crisis - and
perhaps a mobility crisis aswell.Sometime during the past two years,
according to United Nations estimates, theworld-s population became mostly
urban. For the first time, a majority ofus now live in cities, and that
majority will grow rapidly. But urban lifeposes a challenge to our
automotive mobility. In cities, cars offer easymobility - but only when
traffic isn-t too bad. They also freedrivers from the delays and
tribulations of buses, trains, and sidewalks. Inother words, a car
furnishes a steel cocoon that shields motorists from theirfellow
citizens.That protection comes at a price: if not a loss of civility, then
certainly ofurban mobility, as cars clog the roads. Individuals still find
it worthwhile todrive through the city. But for the community as a whole,
making enough roomfor all the cars means devoting a large part of the city
to a costly network ofhighways and parking lots - which still can-t keep
up with thegrowing fleet of cars.Amid road construction and honking horns,
the vaunted freedom of the open roadhas long since vanished in the
rear-view mirror. If we continue to fill ourcities - not just London and
Los Angeles, b ut also Mumbai and Shanghai- with cars, we will be left
with little mobility and barely functionalcities.Which brings us to the
state of the auto industry. Although the crisis of theAmerican automobile
manufacturers has many causes, its resolution may founderon the crisis of
mobility.The United States has always been the model of a mobile society,
where peopleare willing to pull up stakes and go someplace new - if not to
a newterritory out west, then at least to a distant suburb, a long drive
away fromtheir old home. The US became the envy of the world not least
because it wasthe first country where ordinary people owned cars, and
because it is still theland where people drive really big cars. It led the
way in rebuilding itscities around cars and highways.Even as the
automobile business went global, the US car companies remained abreed
apart. Although Ford and General Motors build small cars in Europe,
theymade their money at home by persuading urban dwellers to buy gas-guz
zlingbehemoths that promised mastery of the open road. Detroit owes its
century ofremarkable success to the carmakers- skill in packaging
practicalmobility with improbable fantasy.Those days may be over. The
global economic crash came on the heels of the 2008oil-price explosion,
which proved to be short-lived but is likely to return asglobal oil
supplies are stretched to the limit. New technologies like
lithiumbatteries and hydrogen cars promise to free us from dependence on
fossil fuelswithout separating us from our cars, but even the most
remarkable breakthroughscannot replace our automotive fleet anytime soon.
By the time something comesalong to supplant the cars that we know - and
something will, eventually- we may have had the chance to rethink our
dependence on them.Few of us will voluntarily renounce our modern
mobility. Yet the end of cheapoil - along with the recession - invites us
to escape the burden ofcar loans, sell the second car, drive less,
car-share, choose smaller vehicles,mass transit, bicycles, or our feet, or
move to walkable, transit-linkedneighborhoods.Economists who blithely
assume that pre-2008 automobile sales are'normal,' because Americans
'need' their cars,misunderstand the nature of the automobile market.
Enormous cars, longcommutes, and vast parking lots do have their
advantages, but we could manageto live without them.And yet other
countries- growing middle classes want to emulate theAmerican dream - to
be able to drive to the country and seal themselvesoff from city streets,
just like Westerners. Most governments, too, are eagerlybuilding highways
and promoting domestic car industries.Still, if trendsetting Westerners
are increasingly bicycling, walking, andriding trains, perhaps wealthy
Asians will follow suit, and perhaps theirgovernments will begin to doubt
that cars are the way of the future.It is difficult to imagine a world in
which cars, and driving, are out offashion. But it is bound to happen
someday, an d perhaps that day is not far off.Brian Ladd, author of
'Autophobia: Love and Hate in the AutomotiveAge,' was a visitingprofessor
of urban studies at the University of Oregon in 2009. THE DAILY
STARpublishes this commentary in collaboration with Project Syndicate
(c)(www.project-syndicate.org).(Description of Source: Beirut The Daily
Star Online in English -- Website of the independent daily, The Daily
Star; URL: http://dailystar.com.lb)

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75) Back to Top
Sanctions used as psywar against Iran - MP - Press TV Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 05:25:13 GMT
Text of repo rt in English by Iranian news channel Press TV website on 3
AugustAn Iranian lawmaker snubs anti-Iran sanctions, saying boycotts are
mainly aimed to wage psychological war, but fail to impede Iran's progress
and sovereignty."Although we are not seeking sanctions, these embargoes
can develop the country's capabilities, making us use the existing
facilities properly," IRNA quoted Hoseyn Sobhaninia as saying on Monday (2
August).The UN Security Ccouncil (UNSC), the US and the European Union
passed new series of sanctions against Tehran targeting the banking and
energy sectors of the country."They (the US, UNSC and US Congress) know
quite well that such sanctions are ineffective because we have been
sanctioned over the past 30 years, but worked hard," he added.A week ago,
Canada and Australia joined the fray and imposed new sanctions on Iran's
energy industry.Sobhaninia also noted that the US-backed sanctions were
approved under the pressure exerted by the US , the UNSC and the US
Congress.The Iranian parliament member, however, snubbed the sanctions,
saying the boycotts would not impede the Islamic Republic's progress and
sovereignty.The United States and its allies accuse Iran of seeking
nuclear weapons and pursuing military work under the guise of peaceful
nuclear activities.Tehran rejects the claims vehemently, arguing that all
its nuclear activities are under the full supervision of the International
Atomic Energy Agency.(Description of Source: Tehran Press TV Online in
English -- website of Tehran Press TV, 24-hour English-language news
channel of Iranian state-run television officially controlled by the
office of the supreme leader; www.presstv.ir)

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Iran to boycott sanctions sponsors - minister - Press TV Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 03:13:52 GMT
Text of report in English by Iranian news channel Press TV website on 2
AugustIran will stop imports from countries which have imposed sanctions
on Tehran over its peaceful nuclear programme, says the Iranian minister
of Industries and Mines."The Islamic Republic's market will be closed to
the consuming goods ...of countries which prevent the entry of technology,
machineries and equipment to Iran," the ministry's portal quoted Ali Akbar
Mehrabian as saying on Monday (2 August)."Despite the existing sanctions,
our industries have managed to produce less expensive and higher-quality
goods," he added.The minister insisted that Iran should either
domestically produce its machinery and equipment needs or p rovide them
from its "friend nations."Relying on the potentials of its experts, Iran
can achieve self-sufficiency, higher employment and more wealth, Mehrabian
noted.On July 26, the European Union imposed new sanctions on Iran, which
mainly target investment in and technical assistance to Iran's refining,
liquefaction, and liquefied natural gas sectors.The EU sanctions followed
UN and US sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.Iranian officials
say that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the
country has the right to develop or acquire nuclear technology for
peaceful purposes.(Description of Source: Tehran Press TV Online in
English -- website of Tehran Press TV, 24-hour English-language news
channel of Iranian state-run television officially controlled by the
office of the supreme leader; www.presstv.ir)

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77) Back to Top
Einhorn Says New North Sanctions Due 'in Weeks' - JoongAng Daily Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 01:00:14 GMT
(JOONGANG ILBO) - The engineers of new sanctions on North Korea said
yesterday that the punishments will be implemented within weeks and hurt
more than the freezing of assets in Banco Delta Asia in Macau in 2005.

"We have yet to finalize them," Robert Einhorn, the State Department's
special adviser for nonproliferation and arms control, said in a Seoul
press conference on his second day in South Korea. "I can't give you a
definite day, but in the next several weeks, we do expect to give some
specific entities' names."Einhorn said the sanctions wil l target entities
or individuals engaged in illicit activities by or for North Korea and
block any property or assets they possess within the U.S.The visit by
Einhorn, along with Daniel Glaser, U.S. Deputy Assistant Treasury
Secretary, followed a July 21 announcement by U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton that the U.S. will strengthen sanctions on the North."The
Treasury Department is committed to employing all appropriate new and
existing authorities to protect the international system from North
Korea's abuse," Glaser said.Einhorn said freezing assets in the U.S. would
have a limited impact because North Korea's illicit businesses, which he
estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually, take place
outside the U.S."But," he said, "by publicly naming these entities, these
measures can have the broader effect of isolating them from the
international financial and commercial system."Glaser played an
instrumental role in the U. S. Treasury Department's decision in September
2005 to freeze $25 million in North Korean assets at Banco Delta Asia.
Major international banks stopped dealing with BDA, and the measure
squeezed North Korea."I think international institutions throughout the
world will re-examine and take into account information that we provide
(on North Korean illegal activities)," Glaser said. "I think we can
continue to make an important impact on North Korea."Einhorn said the
illegal activities include export or procurement of conventional arms by
or for North Korea and procurement of luxury goods for North Korea. They
also include counterfeiting of U.S. currency notes and other goods and
narcotics smuggling.Einhorn said apart from the new measures, existing
sanctions will be "aggressively" implemented.He named some North Korean
firms that the U.S. suspects of illegal activities. They include the Korea
Mining Development, Trading Corporation (Komid), Korea R yonbong General
Corporation and Tanchon Commercial Bank (TCB).The new sanctions, forceful
as they may be, are part of the dual track approach toward North Korea,
Einhorn said, of pressure and positive encouragement.But Einhorn said that
doesn't mean the U.S. will forgive all if North Korea returns to six-party
talks on ending its nuclear weapons program. He reiterated the U.S.
position that the North should show sincere responsibility for recent
provocative actions, including the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) incident. The
warship Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) was sunk by what a multinational investigation
concluded was a torpedo from North Korea on March 26, killing 46 sailors.
The North has denied it."We can't repeat the kind of cycle we have been
through where North Korea is engaged in talks and makes commitments, and
abandons the talks, especially in the wake of the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan)
incident," he said. "Before the six-party talks reconvene, it should be
prepared to make commi tments and fulfill them."Since North Korea withdrew
from the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1993, it has been hit with several
rounds of sanctions. The six-party talks have been stalled since April
2009 when North Korea withdrew to protest international pressure about its
nuclear weapon tests. A month later, it performed an underground nuclear
test, leading to another round of sanctions.Einhorn is scheduled to meet
officials of the Fina nce Ministry today to discuss sanctions on North
Korea and Iran and is planning to visit China at the end of this month to
seek cooperation from what he called a "responsible stakeholder" in the
new sanctions.(Description of Source: Seoul JoongAng Daily Online in
English -- Website of English-language daily which provides
English-language summaries and full-texts of items published by the major
center-right daily JoongAng Ilbo, as well as unique reportage; distributed
as an insert to the Seoul edition of the International Herald T ribune;
URL: http://joongangdaily.joins.com)

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78) Back to Top
Bringing Kim Jong Il to His Knees - Dong-A Ilbo Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 00:57:16 GMT
(DONG-A ILBO) - Robert J. Einhorn, the U.S. State Department`s special
adviser for nonproliferation and arms control, said Monday in Seoul that
Washington will announce blacklisted entities and individuals involved in
illicit activities in several weeks. He also stressed that the U.S. will
offer strong incentives to North Korea to ensure Pyongyang's
implementation of its obligations for denuclearization and prev ention of
further provocations.

The U.S. thus plans to use all of the control measures at its disposal to
sanction Pyongyang in line with U.N. Security Council resolutions 1718 and
1874 and other international rules. Washington earlier designated 23 North
Korean agencies and companies and five individuals subject to sanctions
via Executive Order 13382, which governs weapons of mass destruction.
Furthermore, the U.S. will add to this blacklist organizations involved in
the trade of conventional weapons and luxury goods. So Washington has
hinted at controlling all types of illicit activities by Pyongyang and
block money from reaching the North Korean leadership.

Einhorn said, "We have no interest in talks for the sake of talks,"
adding, " Pyongyang must show sincerity in delivering on its promise of
(denuclearization) that already exists." He said pressure itself is not
the goal but rather ensuring that the North recognizes that sincerely atte
nding negotiations complies with its national interests.

Unlike in 2005, when U.S. financial sanctions froze its accounts with the
Macau-based Banco Delta Asia, the North will likely not be able to dodge
sanctions this time by resorting to the deceitful measure of promising to
return to the six-party talks.

Sanctions on North Korea are implemented through a U.S. executive order,
unlike U.S. sanctions on Iran. So the measure entails no binding power for
a third party nation. Having expected additional sanctions by Washington,
Pyongyang has shifted its known bank accounts, including those in
Switzerland, to banks in other countries. The North has distributed funds
and kept its deposits at Chinese banks friendly with Pyongyang. Einhorn
said the U.S. will ask China for cooperation but whether and how much
Beijing will do so remains unknown. The latest sanctions against Pyongyang
depend on how third party nations, including China, will cooperate. To
this end, collab oration and concerted diplomatic efforts by Seoul and
Washington are more important than ever before.

With the North already struggling under diverse economic sanctions by the
South, the additional U.S. sanctions will add significantly to the
Stalinist country's burden. If the communist regime of Kim Jong Il (Kim
Cho'ng-il) fails to admit to and apologize for the sinking of the South
Korean naval vessel Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) and to declare a commitment to
denuclearization, it will continue to face sanctions until it ultimately
surrenders. Seoul and Washington must be wary of Pyongyang attempting to
protest the sanctions through a third nuclear test and additional acts of
aggression.

(Description of Source: Seoul Dong-A Ilbo Online in English -- English
website carrying English summaries and full translation of vernacular hard
copy items of the second-oldest major ROK daily Dong-A Ilbo, which is
conservative in editorial orientation -- generally pro-US, anti-North
Korea; URL: http://english.donga.com)

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US Sanctions Against N. Korea 'to Start in a Few Weeks' - Chosun Ilbo
Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 00:11:53 GMT
(CHOSUN ILBO) - The U.S. State Department's coordinator for Iran and North
Korea sanctions on Monday reiterated that the U.S. will target North
Korean companies and individuals involved in conventional arms deals,
purchase of luxury goods, and other illicit activities.

In a press conference in Seoul, Robert Einhorn said the U.S. will draft a
new executive order singling out the North as a t arget in a few weeks
before beginning sanctions.A South Korean government official said
existing UN resolutions and a previous U.S. executive order already permit
such sanctions, but singling out the North specifically lends extra weight
to the sanctions.Einhorn said Pyongyang earned hundreds of millions of
dollars through "illicit and deceptive activities" to support its nuclear
program or purchase luxury goods in violation of UN Security Council
resolutions.Washington will announce a blacklist of North Korean entities
involved in illicit activities to isolate them from the international
financial and commercial system, he added.At the same time, Einhorn said
the U.S. will make inform third countries of illegal activities involving
the North and explain the need to join sanctions.Daniel Glaser, a deputy
assistant secretary of the Treasury who accompanied Einhorn, said no
matter what legal authority they have, any measures taken by the U.S. will
affect the internat ional community, and that international financial
institutions will take appropriate action based on the information the
U.S. provides.Einhorn went on to say that the U.S. will also urge the
international community to step up implementation of the UN resolutions
adopted after the North conducted its two nuclear tests. He said as a
permanent member of the UNSC, China has a responsibility to let North
Korea know that it must pay the price for attacking the South Korean Navy
corvette Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) in March.(Description of Source: Seoul Chosun
Ilbo Online in English -- English website carrying English summaries and
full translations of vernacular hard copy items of the largest and oldest
daily Chosun Ilbo, which is conservative in editorial orientation --
strongly nationalistic, anti-North Korea, and generally pro-US; URL:
http://english.chosun.com)

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80) Back to Top
US 'To Continue To Apply Pressure' on DPRK Unless It Stops Provocations
Report by Hwang Doo-hyong: "U.S. to sanction N. Korea unless it stops
provocations, shows denuclearization commitment: State Dept." - Yonhap
Monday August 2, 2010 23:39:39 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in English -- Semiofficial news
agency of the ROK; URL: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

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81) Back to Top
New rebel leader likely to 'prove himself' with terror attacks - Russian
senator - Interfax
Monday August 2, 2010 12:18:36 GMT
attacks - Russian senator

Excerpt from report by corporate-owned Russian news agency InterfaxMoscow,
2 August: The replacement of Dokka Umarov, head of the armed underground
movement (in Russia's North Caucasus), with (Umarov's younger comrade)
Aslambek Vadalov will bring with it a change in the militants' tactics and
strategy, member of the National Antiterrorism Committee and first deputy
speaker of the Federation Council Aleksandr Torshin believes."With
Vadalov, completely new phenomena and new techniques will replace the
techniques of the militants that we already know and familiar faces. The
change in their tactics and strategy will complicate the situation by an
order of magnitude," Torshin told Interfax today.Umarov, who is an
authority in the armed underground movement, has left and been replaced by
someone unremarkable and little known, Torshin added. "Although Vadalov
does have experience of war from the start of the first Chechen war, it is
noteworthy that the replacement is happening at a time when terrorist
activity in the North Caucasus has increased," he said.Torshin believes
that Vadalov is not currently an authority for militants in the North
Caucasus, and he will need "high-profile terrorist attacks". "It's a rule
of the genre. The Caucasus is the Caucasus, otherwise he will not
establish himself. If you don't prove yourself, nobody will deal with
you," Torshin said."If one looks at the timetable of attacks on policemen,
terrorist attacks, shootings and the discovery of caches, the line has
crept upwards. This is linked, among other things, to the seasonal factor.
And it appears that it is no coincidence t hat the change has occurred
now, in summer, and not winter or autumn," he added.Torshin believes that
Vadalov's arrival will be accompanied by acts of sabotage, which will
probably concern infrastructure and some kind of demonstrative terrorist
attacks. "Although an attack on policemen, which Vadalov became famous for
in 2008, is a usual affair for him," he added.Torshin also drew attention
to the fact that Vadalov operated mainly in Gudermesskiy District (of
Chechnya), which is the ancestral land of Chechen President Ramzan
Kadyrov, so for the latter the new appointment will be "a very unpleasant
surprise, it seems"."Vadalov is a blood feud avenger, what's more, a
ruthless one. Dokka Umarov was not a blood feud avenger to Kadyrov, and
Vadalov has his own network in that region, judging by everything, and his
own base of support," Torshin said.At the same time, Umarov himself is not
planning to leave and will continue jihad as he has alread y said, Torshin
added. "He will probably move abroad and settle somewhere in Kosovo, which
is an absolutely closed territory today. He may engage in recruiting
there," he said."Militants will pass through Umarov's hands in order to
get to the North Caucasus. One must give him his due, Umarov is an expert
on human souls," Torshin said."Very sophisticated militants who have
passed through fire and water, with a lot of experience" operate in the
North Caucasus, he added.The prospect of Umarov leaving became noticeable
in June this year, when the USA declared him an international terrorist,
Torshin said. "After this it became clear that it was really impossible to
maintain the image of a freedom fighter, and his activity became
ineffective," Torshin said.In addition, the terrorist Magas who was caught
by the special services is now giving evidence and confessing, he said.
"Including locations, passwords and everything connected to Dok ka
Umarov," Torshin said.Torshin believes the militants today need a new
person whom Magas does not know well, and all Umarov's references about
his poor health and age are "nonsense"."He (Umarov) has simply realized
that his activity has become ineffective, and it was necessary to find a
completely new person - Vadalov has become that person," Torshin said.The
main task of the special services now is to capture and neutralize Umarov
and Vadalov, Torshin said."There is already success in this area, and we
are eliminating authoritative leaders of the armed underground more
quickly than their replacement is developing," he added. (Passage
omitted)(Description of Source: Moscow Interfax in Russian -- Nonofficial
information agency known for its extensive and detailed reporting on
domestic and international issues)

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Xinhua 'Interview': Ringgit Expected To Keep Gaining Value
Xinhua "Interview" by LS Soon : "Ringgit Expected To Keep Gaining Value" -
Xinhua
Monday August 2, 2010 13:12:22 GMT
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Malaysian ringgit has been
appreciating against the U.S. dollar since April, and the trend is likely
to continue if the country's economy remains resilient in the second half
of 2010.

Chua Tia Guan, executive director of Great Vision Advisory Group in
Malaysia, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview here on Monday that the
value of a country's currency reflected the economic conditions of the
particular nation.If the Malaysian economy c ould sustain its growth
momentum, Chua said the ringgit would further strengthen against the
greenback."Basically, Malaysia's economic growth is likely to slow down,
and we are unlikely to achieve what we have attained in the first quarter.
However, if the gap is not that big, the ringgit's value will certainly
rise, or maintain at the current level," said Chua.Malaysia's economy
suffered from a 1.7 percent contraction last year but it rebounded
strongly in the first quarter of 2010, recording a growth rate of 10.1
percent.Chua said the second quarter economic figure to be released by the
Malaysian government would also affect the trend of the ringgit.Besides
economic fundamentals, Chua said that the ringgit would also further
appreciate as Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the country 's central bank, was
expected to raise the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by 25 basis points to
three percent."As the bank is normalizing the OPR, the rate is expected to
rise, making th e country appealing to foreign investors that will boost
the ringgit's value in turn," explained Chua.BNM increased the OPR three
times this year by 25 points each time following the outstanding economic
performance the country attained in the first quarter of 2010. Commenting
on the impacts of the appreciating ringgit, Chua believed that the trend
would not slam hard on the country's exports.Instead, it would benefit
people with foreign debts as their total debts were "shrinking", meaning
that they needed less to settle their debts, Chua said."Speaking on the
exports sector, we should also look at the components of the raw materials
of the exported goods to determine if they are imported or produced
locally," said Chua.According to Chua, Malaysia imported a large number of
high- technology products, and the continued appreciation of ringgit would
definitely do more good than harm as imported goods were now made
cheaper.The ringgit rose to its strong est level Monday morning to 3.
1600/1630 to a U.S. dollar, compared with Friday's close of 3.1790/
1830.Meanwhile, Peck Boon Soon, senior RHB Research Institute's senior
economist and analyst in Malaysia, said that the rising trend of the
ringgit was due to the better-than-expected economic recovery in the
United States.He also noted that Asian currencies had been strengthening
against the U.S. dollar, led by the movement of renminbi, the Chinese
currency.Peck said that there was still room for the ringgit to further
appreciate, closing at 3.15 ringgit against a U.S. dollar.However, Peck
warned that the rising trend might slow down by year-end, given the
absence of positive market elements and an OPR hike.He was also worried
that the ever increasing trend would bring uncertainties to the country as
speculators might find opportunities to carry out speculative activities
in Malaysia.When asked about the impacts on exports sector, Peck said
unless the trend prevailed for more than a month, exporters would not feel
the bite.(Description of Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's
official news service for English-language audiences (New China News
Agency))

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S. Korean Economy to Grow 6.1 Pct This Year: Report - Yonhap
Tuesday August 3, 2010 05:17:09 GMT
economy-outlook

S. Korean economy to grow 6.1 pct this year: reportSEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap)
-- South Korea's economy will likely grow 6.1 percent this year, higher
than earlier expectations, though the growth rate is expected to cool in
the second half of the ye ar due to a slowing recovery of the global
economy, a report said Tuesday.The report by the Korea Economic Research
Institute, a think tank of South Korea's largest industry lobby, the
Federation of Korean Industries, said the growth rate for the second half
will likely come to 4.6 percent.The 6.1 percent growth outlook beats
earlier expectations of 5.75 percent by the International Monetary Fund
and 5.9 percent by the country's central bank.The Bank of Korea said last
week that the country's economy grew 7.6 percent in the first half of the
year."Our economic growth will likely slow down in the second half of the
year as European nations begin to take a belt-tightening policy and the
recovery of the global economy, including that of China and the United
States, slows down," the report said.The report predicted the expansion of
domestic consumption would also dwindle from 5 percent in the first half
to 3.4 percent in the second half due to rising interest rates and
worsening conditions in the real estate and employment markets.Consumer
prices, however, will likely climb at a faster rate of 3.2 percent in the
second half, compared to 2.6 percent in the first six months of the year,
it said.The country's current account surplus will likely shrink from
US$11.6 billion in the first six months of the year to some $8.4
billion.(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in English -- Semiofficial
news agency of the ROK; URL: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

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Unconfirmed Commentary of Alleged Car Bomb Linked to 'CIA Agent' in Mexico
City
From Reforma unattributed daily column "Main Temple" - REF ORMA.com
Monday August 2, 2010 18:02:02 GMT
It all started with an anonymous call to the C2 (Second Command and
Control Center), the capital's police command center, alerting about an
alleged car bomb on (Mexico City's) Reforma Avenue.

The authorities must have heard something quite credible because they
dispatched agents from the Task Force, the elite group of the Public
Security Secretariat, which were also coordinated with the Federal Police.

However, when the agents checked on the Mercedes Benz with diplomatic tags
BDD-012, someone who claimed to be "Juan Gamboriel Bartolome" showed up.
He was allegedly an "advisor" to an embassy.

After carefully checking on the automobile, it was returned to the
mysterious diplomat who, as was commented inside federal intelligence
circles, is really a CIA agent.

Some people wonder if everything was a hoax from someone who knows the C2
number and decided to give a hard time to the US Government official. If
this is so, well... how creative!

(Description of Source: Mexico City REFORMA.com in Spanish -- Website of
major center-right daily owned by Grupo Reforma; URL:
http://www.reforma.com/)

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Making It to The 100 Billion Won Club - JoongAng Daily Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 01:00:16 GMT
(JOONGANG ILBO) - SeenTec Co., Ltd. is a boiler manufacturer located in
Changwon, South Gyeongsang. Moneual Inc. is a leading company in the field
of ho me media systems, exporting more than 90 percent of its products to
North America and Europe. Golfzon. Co., Ltd. has been the driving force
here behind virtual "screen golf" establishments.

What do these three diverse companies have in common? They all started as
small ventures that have now seen sales surpass 100 billion won ($85
million).At SeenTec, sales have surged from 1.3 billion won ($1.1 million)
in 2001, when the company was set up, to 133.2 billion won last year, an
increase of 100 times in 9 years. CEO Cho Yong-soo, who previously served
as chief director of the engineering and construction division at Samsung
Heavy Industries, describes SeenTec as "the one and only company covering
everything from designing industrial boilers to conducting
tests."Moneual's corporate earnings reported last year were 163.7 billion
won. According to marketing head Heo Jong-seung, "We sell our product at
the price of $5,000 with the original brand name 'Monueal' on the front.
As we expand our market into China, profits this year are expected to
reach as much as 200 billion won."Golfzon owns more than 3,700 of Korea's
5,900 screen golf centers. Sales last year were 133.1 billion won. Golfzon
President Kim Young-chan said, "We keep growing rapidly, as seen with
profit for the first half (of 2010) topping 110 billion won."For the
remarkable feat of topping 100 billion won in sales in just a few years,
through annual growth of more than 20 percent for three years straight,
the companies earned the nickname "super gazelles," used by some
economists to refer to robust small firms.According to a Small and Medium
Business Administration (SMBA) announcement on July 7, the number of
venture businesses with sales exceeding 100 billion won totaled 242 last
year, an increase of 40, or 20 percent, from 2008. These firms employed a
total of 89,749 employees last year, adding around 10,000 new net jobs
from the p revious year.In terms of growth potential and employment, in
other words, these companies are on a roll. Baek Un-man, director of
venture policy at the SMBA, said, "The middle-class venture business, in
particular, with sales ranging from 300 billion won to 500 billion won,
became solid by adding 21 more companies.Unlike the rags-to-riches
enterprises of the 1990s venture capital boom, which often had business
plans as thin as the paper they were written on, this new crop of
successful venture corporations builds on firmer foundations.Oh Dong-yoon,
a research fellow at the Korea Small Business Institute, said these new
firms first search for opportunities on the global market or in a niche
market, race ahead of potential rivals by enhancing their technical
competitiveness and improve profit structure.In early 2007, Bill Gates,
founder and former CEO of Microsoft, said at the International Consumer
Electronic Show in Las Vegas, "From now on, the market for home ente
rtainment PCs will grow, and companies such as Moneual will receive
attention."His plug gave the company a chance to go on the offensive in
its United States marketing. The result was a huge rise in sales.An
official at Moneual said, "Since the company was established in 2001, we
have specialized in developing multimedia PCs that are relatively
expensive, and the effort turned out to bear fruit."SeenTec had its sights
set on a market from the beginning. President Cho Yong-soo emphasized, "We
couldn't seem to beat Doosan Heavy Industries with large-scale boilers.
Thus, we set our trajectory toward medium-sized boilers from our early
days in business. It was the first success factor for us on the
market."Offering advice to young entrepreneurs, Cho said, "In a nutshell,
set your target market clearly."Another secret is to focus on the core
business, according to Kim Young-chan, president of Golfzon."We do not run
(superficial) franchises. Instead, we have come to stand as the first in
our industry through focused R&amp;D and production," Kim said.Nam
Min-woo, chairman of the Global Medium-sized Venture Forum, a meeting of
venture businesses with 100 billion won in sales or more, said, "For a
start-up business, 10 billion won in sales seem a long way off. For those
who overcome the limit, they come to face a greater goal: 100 billion
won."Chairman Nam advised businesspeople not to rely too much on their own
intuition and effort."At the infant stage of business, it is possible to
lean on the business caliber of the CEO and his or her adventurous
spirit," Nam said, "but it takes a well-organized business system as well
as an original corporate culture to make a company a genuine member of the
100 billion club."(Description of Source: Seoul JoongAng Daily Online in
English -- Website of English-language daily which provides
English-language summaries and full-texts of items published by the major
center-right daily JoongAng Ilbo, as well as unique reportage; distributed
as an insert to the Seoul edition of the International Herald Tribune;
URL: http://joongangdaily.joins.com)

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S. Korea, U.S. to Discuss Defense Logistics Cooperation - Yonhap
Tuesday August 3, 2010 01:49:07 GMT
S Korea-US-defense logistics

S. Korea, U.S. to discuss defense logistics cooperationSEOUL, Aug. 3
(Yonhap) -- Defense officials from South Korea and the United States were
to meet in Seoul on Tuesday for regular talks to enhance coopera tion on
military logistics, Seoul's defense ministry said.The South Korea-U.S.
Logistics Cooperation Committee meeting, the 42nd of its kind, will
involve about 10 officials from each side, led by South Korea's Maj. Gen.
Jeon Dong-woon, director of the munitions management bureau, and the
U.S.'s Alfred Volkman, director of the international cooperation office of
the under secretary of defense, the ministry said.The main issues for the
one-day meeting include an interoperability of ammunition between the
allies in case of war and a review of the U.S. program on the
reinforcement of troops during wartime on the Korean Peninsula, formally
known as Wartime Host Nations Support, the ministry said in a
statement.About 28,500 U.S. soldiers are stationed in South Korea as a
legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War.(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in
English -- Semiofficial news agency of the ROK; URL:
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

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US, ROK To Discuss Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing 'This Fall'
Unattibuted report: "Korea, U.S. to Discuss Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing This
Fall" - Chosun Ilbo Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 01:37:55 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul Chosun Ilbo Online in English -- English
website carrying English summaries and full translations of vernacular
hard copy items of the largest and oldest daily Chosun Ilbo, which is
conservative in editorial orientation -- strongly nationalistic,
anti-North Korea, and generally pro-US; URL: http://english.chosun.com)

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Commerce.

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Why The US Is Going After Kim Jong-il's Slush Fund - Chosun Ilbo Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 01:25:34 GMT
(CHOSUN ILBO) - The latest U.S. financial sanctions against North Korea
are mainly aimed at slush funds amassed by leader Kim Jong Il (Kim
Cho'ng-il) for his third son Jong-un.

So far the U.S. targeted individuals and companies in line with its
existing executive orders and UN Security Council resolutions 1718 and
1874 aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
and nuclear materials.But this time, it is going after the flow of
conventional weapons, drug s and counterfeit bills, which provide revenue
for Kim, and of the luxury goods he uses to reward loyal officials.The
regime stashed away huge sums of cash in bank accounts in Switzerland,
Luxembourg and other European countries to support the transfer of power
to Kim Jong-un. Switzerland and Luxembourg have already said they will
cooperate with the U.S. investigation, vowing to take legal action if
banks were involved in illicit activities involving North Korea. In March,
Kim apparently transferred US$4 billion from a bank account in Switzerland
to another in Luxembourg."It will be difficult for North Korea to raise
money through conventional channels to ensure a smooth transfer of power,"
said a South Korean official.Until now, North Korea's drug trafficking and
counterfeiting activities had been the focus of several investigations,
but experts say the fact that the North persists in these activities shows
that they are important sources of money necessary to ens ure Jong-un's
grip on power once he assumes the throne.(Description of Source: Seoul
Chosun Ilbo Online in English -- English website carrying English
summaries and full translations of vernacular hard copy items of the
largest and oldest daily Chosun Ilbo, which is conservative in editorial
orientation -- strongly nationalistic, anti-North Korea, and generally
pro-US; URL: http://english.chosun.com)

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89) Back to Top
Sifting Through Evidence Selectively
"Viewpoint" column by Harold Piper, former chief editor of the JoongAng
Daily: "Sifting Through Evidence Selectively" - JoongAng Daily Online
Tuesday August 3, 2010 01:16:27 GMT
Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) that resulted in the loss of so many lives.

So now the Russians tell us, according to the newspaper Hankyoreh, that it
wasn't a North Korean torpedo at all that sank the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan), but
an innocent mine that the South Korean ship just happened to tangle
with.Maybe so, maybe not - what do I know? This story continues to
develop, and by the time my comments see print, the sea-mine theory will
be confirmed, demolished or assigned to an ambiguous limbo of infinite
possibilities.What interests me is that the story so poignantly
illustrates the human tendency to choose our beliefs and then sift through
the evidence selectively to find support for our choices. Everybody does
this - not just Koreans. But it was on my recent return to Korea, talking
to Korean friends, that this train of thought started.It is hardly
surprising that Koreans have different ideas a bout how to react to the
sinking of the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan). For years - decades - nobody in Korea
or anywhere else has developed a fruitful policy for managing the North
Korean relationship.But you might have thought that facts stand for
themselves. Whether the sinking of the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan) was a deliberate
act of North Korea or was an accident may be a matter of inferring the
facts. Shouldn't it be simple, however, to distinguish a sea mine from a
torpedo? They operate differently. One waits in the water; the other is
propelled through it. They are designed differently, shaped differently.So
when an international panel convened by South Korea identifies the agent
of the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan)'s destruction as a North Korean torpedo, while a
reported Russian investigation identifies it as a mine bobbing in the
shallows, you would think that there must be a true and false here.But
people do love to choose their facts.Even before the report of the Russian
investigation, one of my dearest Korean friends told me that she had her
doubts about the report. "It's just too convenient," she said. Too
convenient?"They needed a provocation.""They," apparently, is the South
Korean government, but my friend did not explain why the provocation was
needed. Perhaps I can figure that out, though. All democratically
accountable governments, like South Korea's, always need to shore up
popularity. For that matter, all despotic governments, like North Korea's,
do, too.So then the question is, which Korea finds more "convenience" in
the sinking of a naval ship resulting in the loss of 46 lives? I could be
really irritated by the obtuseness of some Koreans, if it were not for my
dear, sainted 101-year-old mother.I will never call my mother obtuse, but
here is what happened: Thirty-some years ago I was a foreign correspondent
based in Soviet Moscow. With the cockiness of youth, I thought I had
written some pretty fine stories.Hom e on vacation I preened a bit, and
she asked me, "Is it true that Soviet citizens have to line up for basic
foods?""Mom! Didn't you read my stories?""Oh, I read them, but I thought
maybe it was propaganda."A man would like to think that at least his
mother believes in him. But my mother's attachment to a noble, alternative
Cold War narrative - that both sides, the United States and the Soviet
Union, were equally at fault - overrode her pride in her son.Why should we
expect Koreans to be more objective than my mother?My dear Korean friend -
the one who thought the official findings too "convenient" - has a history
that confirms her narrative. During the military regime of Pak Cho'ng-hu'i
(Park Chung-hee), her brother joined students protesting the dictatorship.
He was detained, maltreated and denied readmission to university. His
future was obliterated.My friend is a sophisticated, politically aware
citizen. She travels the world and kn ows that South Korea is no longer
unfree. But she will surely never get ove r her resentment at what the
South Korean government did to her brother.So she withholds judgment about
blame for the Ch'o'nan (Cheonan). Anyway, why was it necessary to threaten
to resume propaganda broadcasts at the demilitarized zone? "Pure
provocation," she says.And she clings to shreds of possibility that
support her resentment. Maybe the Russians are right. Maybe the North
Koreans didn't sink the ship.I think of two quotations:The Spanish writer
Miguel de Unamuno said: "We should try to be the parents of our future
rather than the offspring of our past." Certainly we should.But then there
is the American novelist William Faulkner, whose art mined some of the
sorest chapters of American history - slavery, civil war, racism. "The
past is not dead," he wrote. "In fact, it's not even past."(Description of
Source: Seoul JoongAng Daily Online in English -- Webs ite of
English-language daily which provides English-language summaries and
full-texts of items published by the major center-right daily JoongAng
Ilbo, as well as unique reportage; distributed as an insert to the Seoul
edition of the International Herald Tribune; URL:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com)

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90) Back to Top
U.S. Contacted DPRK Directly to Free American Citizen Held: State Dept.
Updated version: upgrading precedence and rewording subject line; By Hwang
Doo-hyong: "U.S. contacted N. Korea directly to free american citizen held
for illegal entry: state dept." - Yonhap
Monday August 2, 2010 19:34:48 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in English -- Semiofficial news
agency of the ROK; URL: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

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91) Back to Top
U.S. Contacted N. Korea Directly to Free American Citizen Held For Illegal
Entry: State Dept. - Yonhap
Monday August 2, 2010 19:23:43 GMT
US citizen-NK detention

U.S. contacted N. Korea directly to free American citizen held for illegal
entry: State Dept.By Hwang Doo-hyongWASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- The
United States said Monday it had directly contac ted North Korea for the
release of an American citizen held there for illegal entry.State
Department spokesman Philip Crowley, however, said Washington has no
immediate plans to send an envoy to secure the release of Aijalon Gomes,
30, of Boston, who was sentenced in May to eight years in a labor and
reeducation camp and fined about US$700,000 for illegal entry on Jan.
25."We have communicated directly with North Korean officials about Mr.
Gomes's case," Crowley said. "On multiple occasions we had the ability to
communicate with North Korea. The question was, are we contemplating
taking that step at this time? The answer is no, not at this time."The
spokesman urged North Korea to release Gomes "on humanitarian grounds,"
saying "We continue to press his case, as do Swedish authorities on our
behalf."The Swedish embassy in Pyongyang handles consular affairs
involving American citizens in North Korea, which does not have diplomatic
ties w ith the U.S.Reports said that Gomes was on a hunger strike in North
Korea.Crowley would neither confirm nor deny that, citing privacy
regulations."As to what's happening inside the prison, I'm not at liberty
to comment on its condition," Crowley said. "He is still in prison. I can
check and see when is the last time Swedish authorities had access to him
-- really, the last 10 days or so. We have specific health concerns, but I
can't say whether Privacy Act considerations allow me to talk about his
current condition."North Korea in June threatened to increase punishment
for Gomes under a wartime law, citing what it called the U.S. campaign to
condemn North Korea for the sinking of the South Korean warship Ch'o'nan
(Cheonan) that killed 46 sailors in the Yellow Sea in March.The U.N.
Security Council condemned the attack that led to the sinking of the
Ch'o'nan (Cheonan), but did not directly blame North Korea due to China's
opposition.North Korea denies resp onsibility, dismissing the outcome of
the international probe that blamed a torpedo fired by a North Korean
mini-submarine.Gomes, who taught English in South Korea, is the fourth
American held in the North since early last year.He reportedly sympathized
with another American, Robert Park, 28, who was released in February after
crossing the Chinese border on Christmas Day to draw international
attention to North Korea's poor human rights record.Two American
journalists were set free in August, when former U.S. President Bill
Clinton visited Pyongyang. The journalists were on a reporting tour
covering North Korean defectors when they were caught in March
2009.(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in English -- Semiofficial news
agency of the ROK; URL: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

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92) Back to Top
US Will Soon Adopt New DPRK Sanctions
Updated version: Upgrading precedence, replacing 0742 GMT version with
updates provided by source at 0832 and 0943 GMT, and providing media
behavior note and video stills. By Chang Jae-soon and Lee Haye-ah: "Envoy
says U.S. will soon adopt new sanctions on North Korea". Seoul YTN Cable
TV in Korean, a 24-hour independent cable television news network,
interrupts regular programming to provide live relay of the news
conference held by Einhorn and Glaser at the US Embassy's Information
Resource Center in Seoul, from 0711 to 0745 GMT; video stills are from YTN
Cable TV. For assistance with multimedia elements, contact the OSC
Customer Center at (800) 205-8615 or oscinfo@rccb.osis.gov - Yonhap
Monday August 2, 2010 12:46:05 GMT
(Description of Source: Seoul Yonhap in English -- Semiofficial news
agency of the ROK; URL: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

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U.S. To Soon Adopt New Financial Sanctions Against DPRK: Senior Official
Xinhua: "U.S. To Soon Adopt New Financial Sanctions Against DPRK: Senior
Official" - Xinhua
Monday August 2, 2010 09:53:07 GMT
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The United States will soon adopt new financial
sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), hoping that
the moves will be strong e nough to deter further aggression and encourage
it to abandon its nuclear weapons program, a senior U.S. envoy said here
on Monday.

Washington will soon announce new sanctions on the DPRK that could isolate
its entities and individuals suspected of illicit activities from the
international financial and commercial system, said Robert Einhorn, U.S.
State Department's special adviser for nonproliferation and arms control,
during a press conference here later in the day."Our hope is that these
measures will be effective, that they will provide strong incentives for
North Korea (DPRK)'s leaders to abide by their international obligations
not to pursue any provocative activities and to fulfill completely their
commitments to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he said.Einhorn,
who is on a three-day visit to Seoul to coordinate stance with Seoul's
government on new sanctions against the DPRK, accused the DPRK of
developing its nuclear or military programs a nd purchasing luxury goods
by hundreds of millions of dollars obtained through "illicit activities",
such as "counterfeiting U.S. dollars", which DPRK denies, and trade in
conventional weapons.New measures will help designate entities and
individuals involved in such activities that violate UN Security Council
resolutions 1718 and 1874, said Einhorn, adding that blacklisting will
lead to the blocking of their assets or properties under the control of a
U.S. person or bank.Seoul and Washington have sought punitive measures
against the DPRK in the aftermath of the March sinking of the South Korean
warship Cheonan, which left 46 sailors dead. Pyongyang denies attacking
the ship.Earlier in the day, Einhorn met with South Korean Foreign
Minister Yu Myung-hwan, chief nuclear envoy Wi Sung-lac and Deputy Foreign
Minister Lee Yong-joon.After a series of meetings, Einhorn said that Seoul
and Washington should cooperate closely in the fight against threats to
inter national security posed by both the DPRK and Iran."One means of
addressing these challenges is to create the pressures felt by these two
governments, so that they recognize that it is in the best interests of
their countries to meet their international obligations and forsake
nuclear weapons," he told reporters.He added that the DPRK and Iran are
different cases and sanctions on Pyongyang will be different from those
pursued against Teheran.Einhorn's visit to Seoul follows Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton's announcement last month that the United States
would impose fresh economic sanctions on the DPRK that are aimed at
reining in Pyongyang's nuclear activities by stamping out illegal
moneymaking ventures used to fund the program.In response, a DPRK
spokesman said in Hanoi on July 22 that the new sanctions Washington will
impose on it were in violation of a UN statement issued on July 9 over the
sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan.On July 27, Pyongyang al so
described the new sanctions threats as part of "provocations" to the DPRK
and "rude challenges" to the international community appealing for
peace.(Description of Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's
official news service for English-language audiences (New China News
Agency))

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94) Back to Top
Water Ski Shows, Aerobatics to Be Featured At World Leisure Games - Yonhap
Monday August 2, 2010 06:06:40 GMT
World Leisure Games-events

Water ski shows, aerobatics to be featured at World Leisure
GamesCHUNCHEON, South Korea, Aug. 2 (Y onhap) -- South Korea's lake city
of Chuncheon is ready to catch tourists' eyes with various shows and
spectacles at the upcoming 1st World Leisure Games, the event's organizers
said Monday.The World Leisure Games, inaugurated by the South Korean city
of Chuncheon, 85 kilometers east of Seoul, will start on Aug. 28 and run
for nine days, together with the 11th World Leisure Congress 2010, to
promote outdoor activities and the leisure industry.During the festival,
the world's top show skiers and pilots will put on world-class
performances for the spectators who visit the Games, said the
organizers.Stars of Florida, a U.S. water ski team with 15 professional
skiers, will showcase all aspects of the sport including jumping,
pyramids, wakeboarding and water skiing acrobaticsThe show will be held
one to three times a day at Lake Uiam.Also, an aerobatics show over the
lake is set to pull in a crowd of hundreds with its impressive lineup of
some of the best paragliding pilots from South Korea and around the
world.Well-know pilot Richard Gallon will showcase acro paragliding to
South Koreans and tourists hailing from overseas.Skaters and bikers from
Singapore, Australia, the United States and Europe will also be able to
see in-line skating and BMX demonstrations with dangerous spirals and
jumps at a track in Chuncheon."The shows will be introduced in the country
for the first time. They will give you unforgettable memories here," said
Son Eun-nam, chairman of the organizing committee.(Description of Source:
Seoul Yonhap in English -- Semiofficial news agency of the ROK; URL:
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

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95) Back to Top
Zamfara Governor Urges Government To Lift Ban Placed on Mining in State
Report by Abdulkadir Badsha Mukhtar: "Zamfara Lead Poisoning: Shinkafi
Wants Ban on Mining Lifted" - Daily Trust Online
Monday August 2, 2010 12:00:27 GMT
(Description of Source: Abuja Daily Trust Online in English -- Website of
the independent pro-North daily; URL: http://www.news.dailytrust.com/)

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96) Back to Top
Captured Murderer Confesses to Five Killings in Bocas del Toro
Unattributed article: "Captured Murderer Confesses to Five Killings in
Bocas del Toro&qu ot; - newsroompanama.com
Monday August 2, 2010 17:44:41 GMT
Holbert, while in Panama used the name William Cortez, he and his partner,
both Americans, were arrested by the army in Nicaragua along the border
with Costa Rica. They were handed over to Panama on Thursday (29 July)
with a media circus before leaving Nicaragua, and on their arrival in
Panama.

He has confessed to killing Mike Brown, his wife and teenage son, and
Cheryl Hughes and Bo Icela.

All were killed with shots to the head so he could steal their property in
Bocas del Toro.

Five indigenous people who worked for him are missing and their families
and the authorities suspect that Holbert has something to do with their
disappearance. Calderon says a team of forensic anthropologists from the
Institute of Legal Medicine is preparing to travel this week to the place
where the murderer said he buried the Bro wns.

He added that Holbert is wanted in by the US for a possible fraud.

Laura Michelle Reese, who also faces homicide charges, was less
forthright, and has invoked Article 25 of the Constitution, which says
that no one is compelled to testify against himself. She has also
requested assistance from the US Embassy.

(Description of Source: (Panama City newsroompanama.com in English --
Online version of tourist-oriented newspaper; URL
http://www.newsroompanama.com))

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97) Back to Top
U.S. Threats More Sanctions on Pyongyang
Xinhua: "U.S. Threats More Sanctions on Pyongyang" - Xinhua
Monday August 2, 2010 22:08:59 GMT
U.S. threats more sanctions on Pyongyang WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) --
The United States on Monday warned that the Democratic People's Republic
of Korea (DPRK) will see " additional steps in the coming weeks" for its
provocative actions, hinting more sanctions on Pyongyang for its missile
and nuclear programs.

At the daily press briefing, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley
dismissed Pyongyang's criticism on the joint military exercise by the
United States and the Republic of Korea, saying the DPRK is a source of
instability in the region."As a result of a string of provocative actions
by North Korea, as a result of North Korea's unwillingness to engage
constructively and live up to its obligations, North Korea is going to see
additional steps taken in the coming weeks," said the spokesman.According
to Crowley, the additional steps would be sanctions on ent ities and
individuals having links with Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programs,
which he said "North Korea has used, through various tests, to threaten
the security of the region."The DPRK's official news agency of KCNA said
Saturday that the ongoing military exercise was aimed at launching an
anticipative attack on the country, warning that the DPRK will defeat all
of its enemies with all of its self-defense strength."It is important for
North Korea to focus on its own actions. And we'd like to see North Korea
move in a different action," Crowley said, warning that if Pyongyang
continues its "string of provocative actions," "there will be
consequences."Early on Monday, Robert Einhorn, U.S. State Department's
special adviser for nonproliferation and arms control, told reporters in
Seoul that the United States will soon adopt new sanctions on Pyongyang in
order to force it to stop provocation and abandon its nuclear weapons
program.(D escription of Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's
official news service for English-language audiences (New China News
Agency))

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98) Back to Top
Israel Makes No Obligations To U.S. for Start of Direct Talks With
Palestinians: PM
Xinhua: "Israel Makes No Obligations To U.S. for Start of Direct Talks
With Palestinians: PM" - Xinhua
Monday August 2, 2010 15:31:16 GMT
JERUSALEM, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
told his cabinet members that he made no obligations to the United States
in his recent meeting with Presid ent Barack Obama for possible direct
talks with the Palestinians, sources told Xinhua on Monday.

Addressing his cabinet ministers at a weekly session on Sunday, he
estimated that direct talks with the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)
could begin within two weeks.However, he strongly denied that Israel has
agreed to Palestinian preconditions for returning to direct talks,
including extension of a freeze on settlement activity in the West Bank
and negotiations based on the 1967 War ceasefire lines, a source close to
Israeli cabinet said.The U.S. has continued to pressure the PNA to start
negotiations, and is constantly assuring the PNA and Arab countries alike
that the Israeli premier's political base rests on solid foundations,
enabling him to take diplomatic risks without threatening his government's
stability, according to the source who declines to be named due to the
sensitivity of the issue.At the session, Netanyahu was also asked if he
was familiar with the P alestinian proposal for a resumption of talks, as
noted by Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat who termed them "
unprecedentedly generous.""I know of the proposal that was forwarded to
the Americans, but it wasn't passed on to us -- those are things that will
only be discussed in the course of direct negotiations," Netanyahu
replied.Netanyahu's political status was also discussed during the
meeting, under the framework of U.S. pressure being brought to bear on the
Palestinians, as well as on other moderate Arab nations in the area.The
message from White House sources to Jordan and Egypt, among others, was
clear cut: the Netanyahu government will not fall in the foreseeable
future, and he has no plans to make structural coalition changes.It was
also emphasized that Netanyahu would be able to pass practically any
legislation "as far-reaching as it may be" in the makeup of the current
coalition, so there was no point in continuing to wait for the opposition
Kadima Party to join the coalition or for any other changes in Israel's
political system.The prime minister gave expression to this sentiment,
saying he wasn't leaving the ring anytime soon, and cemented that
assurance in the course of a remark to a minister during a discussion on
the issue of the status of foreign workers.When one minister noted in
passing, "that will happen in another five years -- the next government
will have to take up the issue." Netanyahu corrected him, saying, "In five
years this government will be the one discussing it."(Description of
Source: Beijing Xinhua in English -- China's official news service for
English-language audiences (New China News Agency))

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99) Back to Top
China's Geely Completes Volvo Acquisition; Eyes Restoring Volvo's Glory
Xinhua: "China's Geely Completes Volvo Acquisition; Eyes Restoring Volvo's
Glory" - Xinhua
Monday August 2, 2010 07:39:08 GMT
BEIJING, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese car maker Geely Holdings Group Co.
Ltd. said Monday it has completed its 1.8 billion U.S. dollar-buyout of
Ford Motor Co.'s Volvo unit, in a landmark foreign acquisition by a
Chinese company.

At a handover ceremony held in London, Ford delivered all of its Volvo
assets to Geely Holdings Group, after the deal won approval from
regulators in China, the United States and the European Union.In a
telephone interview with Xinhua, Li Shufu, Chairman of Geely Group and
Volvo Car Corporation, said he hopes to restore Volvo to a leading
position in the global luxu ry auto market."After the takeover, Geely
remains Geely and Volvo is still Volvo. The relationship between the two
companies is brotherhood and not a parent-and-child relationship," Li told
Xinhua."Volvo should enjoy a much better position in the global market
given its quality, technology, research and development abilities and its
brand value," he added.He said Volvo will remain headquartered in
Gothenburg, Sweden, with management having autonomy to execute its own
business plan.As part of its business plans, Li said, Volvo will
strengthen its presence in Europe and North America while also taking
advantage of growth opportunities in China.Geely has also announced the
appointment of six members to the Volvo board, including Stefan Jacoby,
President and Chief Executive of the new Volvo Car Corporation.Li Shufu
has been appointed chairman of the new board and Hans-Olov Olsson has been
appointed vice chairman.Shares of Hong Kong-listed Geely Automobile ros e
1.38 percent to 2.94 HK dollars (38 U.S. cents) Monday morning.Dong Yang,
Executive Vice President of the China Association of Automobile
Manufacturers, said Geely's successful takeover of Volvo is "just the
company's first step in expanding."Keeping Volvo's high-end brand value
and product quality will be a difficult task, Dong said, adding that
raising Volvo's market share in China and adapting the European brand to
China will not be easy, either."All of these things should be realized
step by step through hard work," he added.(Description of Source: Beijing
Xinhua in English -- China's official news service for English-language
audiences (New China News Agency))

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100) Back to Top
RROE Article Slams Clinton's Remarks on South China Sea
Article by Chen Hu, Editor-In-Chief of World Military Affairs: "Muddling
the South China Sea To Fish in Troubled Waters (Wanghailou)" - Renmin
Ribao (Overseas Edition) Online
Monday August 2, 2010 07:05:59 GMT
(Description of Source: Beijing Renmin Ribao (Overseas Edition) Online in
Chinese -- Online version of the daily newspaper (People's Daily Overseas
Edition) of the CPC Central Committee targeting overseas Chinese
audiences. URL:
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrbhwb)Attachments:rroe0728sea.pdf

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101) < a href="#top">Back to Top
Mutharika Says Food Shortages Issues To be History for Malawi, Zambia in 5
years
Unattributed report: Dont Look To the West - Times of Zambia Online
Monday August 2, 2010 12:18:32 GMT
(Description of Source: Lusaka Times of Zambia Online in English --
Government-owned daily; URL: http://www.times.co.zm/)

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102) Back to Top
Mugabe asks western nations to 'stop trying to make decisions' for
Zimbabwe - The Herald Online
Monday August 2, 20 10 13:34:37 GMT
decisions" for Zimbabwe

Text of report by state-owned Harare-based Zimbabwean newspaper The Herald
website on 2 AugustPresident Mugabe has told condescending Westerners to
"go to hell" and stop trying to make decisions for Zimbabwe as if
Zimbabweans are an inferior people.Speaking at the burial of his sister,
national heroine Cde (comrade) Sabina Mugabe at the National Heroes' Acre
in Harare yesterday, President Mugabe counselled unity among Zimbabweans
to defeat imperialists' machinations saying the West was not sincere when
it came to re-engagement."The inclusive delegation paid a visit to Europe
and came back empty-handed. We are still treated as if we do not own the
country. They say remove Mugabe first and then we relate with you. We
cannot behave as if Europe and America owns Zimbabwe."To hell, hell, hell,
hell, with them," he said to applause and ululation from the la rge
crowd.President Mugabe said only Zimbabweans have the right to elect the
country's leadership.He said the progressive world continued to support
Zimbabwe despite the Western hostility."The majority of people are in Asia
and Africa. We are the majority in this world and we call ourselves the
non-aligned. We have right on our side and the right is mighty."This is
the fight we must continue to make, but let us make it in a united way ...
(all ellipsis as published) There should not be people doubting their
strengths; doubting whether they own Zimbabwe or not ..."We are
Zimbabweans and not Europeans, not Americans," President Mugabe said.The
Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe
Defence Forces said Zimbabweans are peace-loving people who want good
relations with other countries."Those who do not want to be friends with
us, please keep away," he said.The criticism of the West, particularly
America, saw United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray - who was
present - leaving in a huff.President Mugabe challenged Zimbabweans to
jealously safeguard their country and its natural resources, which he
said, should benefit all citizens."We have this one country that must
remain ours beyond our generation, ours forever. We have this one
independence that must remain in our hands so we can pass it on to the
caring hands of those to come - our children and grandchildren."We have
natural resources which the good Lord gave us so we can survive, live and
thrive on them, we of this land, before we pass them on to those to come
after us," President Mugabe said.He added: "We are caretakers of this
country, this one independence, these abundant resources, for generations
to come. Shall we be good stewards who jealously guard this great and only
such gift from God?"Or shall we be the bad stewards who sleep on guard,
allowing colonial thieves to break in and steal our national estate thus
robbing generations to come."We carry this heavy burden which we must bear
and deliver with dignity so those who come after us do not curse and spit
on our graves."The country is now in our hands. It is ours and we hold on
to it unperturbed by unsolicited advice from knowing outsiders whose
record reveals ill-will against our people."They cannot be good to us
today when they could not be good to us yesterday."They detained us,
jailed us, shot at us, bombed us, and slaughtered us in our hundreds. We
bore the brunt of their cruelties and shall never forget," he
said.President Mugabe said the West wants Zimbabwe to remain perpetually
in bondage."Their appetite grows with every feeding and will thus not be
satiated. Their wish is that we remain landless forever, occupied as
labourers until kingdom come."This is the meaning of their evil sanctions
on us which they do not want to remove."He urged unity among Zimbabweans
in callin g for the removal of the illegal Western sanctions."Let us show
the same sense of national purpose in fighting sanctions. They are real;
they are hurting our people regardless of political affiliation."Europe
and America want to keep those sanctions not for our benefit, but for
their strategic interests here. We do not matter at all. This is why it is
important that we speak with one voice," he said.The president said he was
happy that all members of the inclusive government were starting to
appreciate the importance of resource ownership."Thank you Prime Minister
(Morgan) Tsvangirai, Thank you Deputy Prime Minister (Arhtur) Mutambara.
It is the fate of our people, the fate of our children that must worry us
(not) the fate of individuals who come and go."The child of an erstwhile
colonial slave must now rise and become a landowner, miner, industrialist,
banker, owner of this conglomerate Zimbabwe Limited."Otherwise what use is
this independence which people like Sabina suffered for? Of what use would
be a Zimbabwe which keeps its children on the margins, wallowing in
poverty as before?" he asked.President Mugabe said Zimbabwe's diamonds
must first and foremost benefit the nation as a whole and not just a few
individuals."Madiamonds haasi anosungirwa kuiswa muhomwe nevanhuwo zvavo.
Madiamonds enyika auya to add to our thrust of liberation. Those are the
fruits we are reaping; the fruits of the struggle," he said.President
Mugabe assured the nation that government would ensure the nation benefits
from diamonds.(Description of Source: Harare The Herald Online in English
-- Website of pro-government newspaper published daily except Sunday; URL:
http://www.herald.co.zw)

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< br>
103) Back to Top
Zimbabwe Set To Host 2d Mining Summit Sep 2010
Unattributed report: "Zimbabwe To Host Second Mining Indaba" - The Herald
Online
Monday August 2, 2010 12:50:02 GMT
(Description of Source: Harare The Herald Online in English -- Website of
state-owned daily that frequently acts as a mouthpiece for ZANU-PF and
nominally distributed nationwide; URL: http://www.herald.co.zw)

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104) Back to Top
Mugabe Asks Western Nations To 'Stop Trying' To Make Decisions for
Zimbabwe
Report by Takunda Maodza: "West Can Go To Hell, Says President" - The
Herald Online
Monday August 2, 2010 12:44:57 GMT
(Description of Source: Harare The Herald Online in English -- Website of
state-owned daily that frequently acts as a mouthpiece for ZANU-PF and
nominally distributed nationwide; URL: http://www.herald.co.zw)

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105) Back to Top
Chamber of Commerce Urges Zimbabwean Businesses To Attend Los Angeles Expo
Unattributed report: "Firms Urged To Attend LA Expo" - The Herald Online
Monday August 2, 2010 11:51:06 GMT
A considerable number of businesses in the country are engaged in
manufacturing a range of value-added products that have been destined for
the export market but have been constrained by funding and deficient
exposure to international markets.To this extent there is need for the
intensification Zimbabwe's business sector's participation at
international trade fairs and business expositions so that they can create
synergies and experience real growth.Said organisers NOK Concepts in a
statement: "This is an opportunity for every business owners to meet
representatives of governments and corporates from USA, Asia and Africa,
chief executive officers of Fortune 5000 organisations, private and public
investors from different business sectors."Participation of the country's
private sector in global events can function to augment the Inclusive
Government's efforts to attra ct Foreign Direct Investment inflows to the
extent of new business liaisons.

(Description of Source: Harare The Herald Online in English -- Website of
state-owned daily that frequently acts as a mouthpiece for ZANU-PF and
nominally distributed nationwide; URL: http://www.herald.co.zw)

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106) Back to Top
Russia, NORAD To Have Joint Air Defense Exercise - ITAR-TASS
Monday August 2, 2010 23:43:41 GMT
intervention)

WASTHINGTON, August 3 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Air Force and the North
American Aerospace Defense Command /NORAD/ will conduct a first-ever co
operative air defense exercise that will simulate the cooperative actions
of combat units in dealing with acts of terrorism aboard civilian jets and
hijacking, NORAD said in a report for the mass media Monday."The civilian
air control agencies of Russia /the Federal Air Navigational Service/ and
the United States /Federal Aviation Administration/ will also be involved
in the exercise along with the military air operations centers at
Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, and Khabarovsk, Russia," the report said.The
exercise codenamed Vigilant Eagle "will take place on or about August 8 to
August 11 and involves Russian, Canadian and U.S. Air Force personnel
operating from command centers in Russia and the United States."NORAD
recalled that the exercise is authorized under a cooperative military
agreement signed by Russian and U.S. Presidents."The agreement tasks
NORAD, the bi-national U.S. and Canadian command, and the Russian
Federation Air Force to conduct a live- fly exercise for up to five days,"
the report said."It will consist of two international flights: one
originating in Alaska and traveling to the Far East followed by one
originating in the Far East and traveling to Alaska. Both flights will
follow the same route," NORAD said.The basic premise is that a U.S.
flagged commercial air carrier on an international flight /Fencing 1220/
has been taken over by terrorists. The aircraft will not respond to
communications."The exercise scenario will create a situation that
requires both the Russian Air Force and NORAD to launch or divert fighter
aircraft to investigate and follow Fencing 1220," NORAD indicated.The
exercise will focus on shadowing and the cooperative hand-off of the
monitored aircraft /Fencing 1220/ between fighters of the participating
nations.Airborne warning and control aircraft /AWACS E-3B and A-50/ from
Russia and the U.S. will be involved along with fighter-interceptor
aircraft and refuelin g aircraft from both countries."This combined
exercise moves us forward in the development of cooperation between the
Russian Federation Air Force and NORAD in preventing possible threats of
air terrorism" and it provides "the opportunity to cooperatively detect,
track, identify, intercept and follow an aircraft as it proceeds across
international boundaries," the report said.(Description of Source: Moscow
ITAR-TASS in English -- Main government information agency)

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107) Back to Top
IMF Forecasts 4 Prcnt Economic Growth In Russia In 2010 - ITAR-TASS
Monday August 2, 2010 21:40:46 GMT
intervention)

WASHINGTON, August 3 (Itar-Tass) - International Monetary Fund expects the
Russian economy to show a 4.3% growth in 2010, says a forecast that the
IMF released for the media following a regular review of Russia's economic
performance.In 2011, the forecasted growth will likely show 4.1%.Both
figures have been revised upwards compared to the assessments cited in an
analytical review with IMF issued in April.On the whole, the new report
has a cautiously optimistic tonality.The press release begins with a
statement that the condition of the Russian economy is improving after a
deep recession but recuperation remains unstable so far.The economic
forecast for the short term envisions a moderate revitalization, the press
release said.(Description of Source: Moscow ITAR-TASS in English -- Main
government information agency)

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108) Back to Top
Search For Umarov To Continue -- Kadyrov - ITAR-TASS
Monday August 2, 2010 15:01:51 GMT
intervention)

GROZNY, August 2 (Itar-Tass) -- The search for Chechen warlord Doku Umarov
will not be stopped and will continue as intensively as before, Chechen
President Ramzan Kadyrov said."I have repeatedly stressed that there are
no forces behind Umarov, and that there are no units subordinated to him.
He is sick, he is holing up like a rat, killing body lice, he has lost
teeth and cannot command anyone," Kadyrov said on Monday, August
2.Earlier, BBC radio reported that Umarov, 46, who calls himself the emir
of the so-called Cauca sus Emirate, said he was resigning from his post
for health reasons. Umarov declared he would hand down his post "to a
younger and more energetic" man, pointing to Aslambek Vadalov, who was
featured in the video as standing next to Umarov.Umarov did look like a
man whose health was failing, BBC said."Mass media reports that one
watchman has been replaced by another one are propaganda. It makes no
difference who calls himself what name. This is an attempt to draw
attention to the terrorist and create a semblance of some organised forces
with a command. All this is a farce," Kadyrov said."Special operations to
find Umarov and other bandits who have forever closed the door leading to
heavenly life will continue. No matter what name Umarov calls himself, he
is a bandit. Even if he had never taken up arms, he should have been tried
to the full extent of the law for his statement that the events at the
Sayano-Shushenskaya hydropower plant were the doing of his team, just like
other tragic events were," Kadyrov said."For people in Chechnya, Umarov
has long been a living corpse. He is basically not remembered. He is more
talked about by mass media, especially abroad. In Chechnya, nine people of
ten do not even know what emirate Umarov is mumbling or who he is," he
said.Speaking of Umarov's "successor" - Aslambek Vadalov - Kadyrov said
that "law enforcement are looking for him" and "there is no difference for
the those who take part in this operation what rank Vadalov has in the
hierarchy of bandits."Kadyrov is confident that "the relevant agencies
will find both chieftains" and "they'd better go straight to the courtroom
with their hands up. This may save their lives, given the moratorium on
death penalty. Otherwise they will share the fate of their predecessors
Basayev, Khattab and others," Kadyrov said.Earlier, the U.S. Secretary of
State has designated Caucasus Emirates leader Doku Umarov under
Presidential Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those
providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. This action will
help stem the flow of financial and other assistance to Umarov, Philip J.
Crowley, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs, said.The emergence
of Umarov as the leader of the Chechen insurgency intensified the split
between national separatists and radical jihadists and led to a movement
seeking to create an Islamic Emirate of the Caucasus with Umarov as the
Emir. Umarov claimed responsibility for masterminding attacks in both
Russia and the Caucasus region, most recently acknowledging involvement in
the 2009 Nevsky Express train derailment which killed 28 people, and the
2010 Moscow subway bombings, which killed 40. "The designation of Umarov
is in direct response to the threats posed to United States and Russia,"
said Ambassador Daniel Benjamin, the Department of State's Coordinator f
or Counterterrorism. "The recent attacks perpetrated by Umarov and his
operatives illustrate the global nature of the terrorist problem we face
today. We stand in solidarity with the Russian people in our condemnation
of these deplorable terrorist acts."This designation represents just one
phase of the United States Government's response to the threat posed by
Doku Umarov. The action taken today against Umarov supports the U.S.
effort to degrade Umarov's ability to exert operational and leadership
control over Caucasus Emirates. We are determined to eliminate the group's
ability to direct violent attacks and to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat
Umarov's network, Crowley said.Kadyrov welcomed the U.S. decision. "The
decision to include Umarov in the list of international terrorists
indicates that the United States has finally realised that the man has
nothing to do either with politics, or with the Chechen people. He is a
terrorist who has no ideas, political view s or interests. He has one aim,
that of shedding as much blood as possible," he said."I am surprised by
the tone of some commentators, who have called Umarov as the leader of
Chechen separatists. I am declaring with responsibly that in nature there
is no such thing as Chechen separatism or separatists. Doku Umarov has
been a bandit all along and he will remain so," Kadyrov said.However, he
agreed that "it is difficult to understand why the decision to include
Umarov in the black list of terrorists was not made, when he had just
staged large-scale terrorist attacks that caused numerous casualties, or
when he was at the head of a large gang.""Today his terrorist organisation
has been wiped out, in the forests there still remains a handful of those
who have burned the bridge back into civilian life. Umarov today is a
sick, toothless, miserable creature," Kadyrov said, adding that
"exhaustive measures" were being taken for the sake of his
detention.(Description of Source: Moscow ITAR-TASS in English -- Main
government information agency)

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109) Back to Top
Russian Stock Market Strides Upward on Positive News From Europe And U.S.
- Interfax
Monday August 2, 2010 15:44:41 GMT
MOSCOW. Aug 2 (Interfax) - The Russian stock market opened trading in
August with new gains following positive signals from foreign indexes,
good U.S. stats and quarterly reports from Europe.Benchmark stocks on the
RTS Index went up by 2.93% to 1,523.16 points while the MICEX Stock
Exchange increased by 2.31% to 1,429.36 points.Futures on the RTS Index
slipped by only 1.9 points indicating a neutral mood among
investors.Advancers for the day were VTB (RTS: VTBR), up 2.6%, Gazprom
(RTS: GAZP) - 3.8%, Gazprom Neft (RTS: SIBN) - 3.8%, MMC Norilsk Nickel
(RTS: GMKN) - 3%, Lukoil (RTS: LKOH) - 0.3%, Polyus Gold (RTS: PLZL) -
1.1%, Rosneft (RTS: ROSN) - 3%, Rostelecom (RTS: RTKM) - 2.1%, Sberbank
(RTS: SBER) - 2.4%, Surgutneftegas (RTS: SNGS) - 1.4% and Tatneft (RTS:
TATN) - 0.04%.Transneft (RTS: TRNF), which posted impressive gains over
the last several days on a news of a tariff increase, slowed its growth to
0.4%.Posting gains among second tier stocks on the MICEX Stock Exchange
were Uralkali, up 9.8%, Raspadskaya (RTS: RASP) - 8.5%, Razgulay (RTS:
GRAZ) - 6.8%, Severstal (RTS: CHMF) - 6%, Novolipetsk Metallurgical
Combine (NLMK) - 5.9% and Acron (RTS: AKRN) - 5.6%.Posting losses were
Diod, down 2.2%, VSMPO-Avisma (RTS: VSMO) Corporation - 0.1% and TMK (RTS:
TRMK) - 0.1%.Total RTS Classic Tradi ng came to $1.815 million for the
day, RTS Standard deals - $492.04 million and MICEX Stock Exchange
transactions - 47.51 billion rubles.Ih(Our editorial staff can be reached
at eng.editors@interfax.ru)Interfax-950140-SKMXCBAA

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110) Back to Top
Further SOW Reductions Impossible Without All "nuclear Club? Members
Involvement - Lavrov - Interfax
Monday August 2, 2010 14:55:50 GMT
involvement - Lavrov

MOSCOW. Aug 2 (Interfax) - The further reduction of strategic offensive
weapons (SOW) is impossible without the involvement of all members of the
" nuclear club," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said."Deep SOW
reductions by Russia and the United States mean that very soon there will
be a totally new situation in the field of nuclear disarmament - the
reduction of a gap between our countries' arsenals and other members of
the 'nuclear club' will inevitably lead to these countries' nuclear
potential being able to stay outside the process of further agreed
reductions for a longer period of time," he wrote in an article published
in the magazine Mezhdunarodnaya Zhizn.At the moment, the official holders
of nuclear weapons are Russia, the U.S., China, the United Kingdom and
France."One should not forget about something as important as NATO's total
nuclear potential," the Russian minister added.There is growing need to
expand nuclear disarmament by making it a multilateral process, he
said."Movement toward totally eliminating nuclear weapons will only become
possible as the result of concer ted efforts to create relevant
international conditions," Lavrov said."Remaining one of the leaders in
disarmament, the Russian Federation is urging all countries without
exception, and primarily those which possess nuclear arsenals, to join the
efforts made by Russia and the U.S. to actively contribute to the
disarmament process," the Russian foreign ministry
said.Interfax-950215-MBMXCBAA

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111) Back to Top
Dollar Falls to Lowest Point on MICEX Since Mid-may, Ruble Posts Steady
Gains - Interfax
Monday August 2, 2010 14:39:40 GMT
gains

MOSC OW. Aug 2 (Interfax) - The U.S. dollar declined significantly during
Monday trading on the MICEX, hitting its lowest point in the last two and
a half months as the euro gained on the world market. The Russian ruble
went up significantly against the Central Bank's bi-currency basket in
reaction to rising oil prices.The dollar went down by 19 kopecks to close
to 30.095 rubles/$1 while the euro edged up by 0.74 kopecks to finish at
39.45 rubles/EUR1.The dollar went hit a session minimum of 30.085 rubles,
which was its lowest point since May 14.The bi-currency basket (set at
$0.55 and 0.45) went down by 11 kopecks to close at 34.3 rubles.The
dollar's average weighted exchange rate on the MICEX decreased by 2.78
kopecks to 30.1868 rubles/$1 in Today deals on Monday and 6.87 kopecks to
30.1773 rubles/$1 in Tomorrow deals. Total dollar trading on the MICEX
amounted to $2.456 billion with $622.4 million in Today deals and $1.833
billion in Tomorrow deals.The average weighted rate of the euro went down
by 0.35 kopecks to 39.461 rubles/EUR1 rubles in Today deals and went up by
3.34 kopecks to 39.4547 rubles/EUR1 in Tomorrow deals. Total euro trading
came to 205.5 million euro, of which 58.6 million euro were Today deals
and 146.9 million euro were Tomorrow deals.The overnight MosPrime Rate
went down by 18 basis points at 2.84%.Ih(Our editorial staff can be
reached at eng.editors@interfax.ru)Interfax-950140-JSLXCBAA

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112) Back to Top
Legally Binding "rules of The Game? Needed in Missile Defense - Lavrov -
Interfax
Monday August 2, 2010 13:39:44 GMT
MOSCOW. Aug 2 (Interfax) - Russia wants legally binding agreements forged
in order to regulate activities in the missile defense sphere, Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov said."It would be desirable to shape mutually
advantageous rules of the game in the missile defense sphere, codifying
them one way or another in a legally binding form," Lavrov wrote in an
article, published in the magazine Mezhdunarodnaya Zhizn.Regarding the
American missile shield, Lavrov said that Russia has been closely
following its evolution, and reserves the right to withdraw from the
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty if it posses risks for Russia."Aiming to
cut and limit strategic offensive weapons from the beginning, the new
treaty does not put curbs on the development of missile defense systems,"
he said."The Russian Federation has clearly negotiated the right to
terminate the treaty as a way of maintaining its sovereignty, if the
qualitative and quantitative enla rgement of the capabilities of the
American missile shield starts to threaten the potential of our strategic
nuclear forces. Clearly enough, the Russian side will assess, on its own,
the degree of such influence," the foreign minister said.This position
complies with all principles of international law and was accepted by the
American side, he said."We are closely following the American plans to
build a missile shield. If and when the U.S. reaches the level of
strategic missile defense, which we will see as a risk for the Russian
strategic nuclear forces, we will decide whether or not this reservation
should be used," Lavriov said.A separate format of bilateral dialog on
missile defense has been established at the order of the Russian and
American presidents, he said."The central point here is an open and
constructive discussion, and transparency of our plans. The provisions in
the new treaty, which cover the silo-based interceptor systems, meaning
their separation from ballistic missile systems, as well as the ban on
their mutual refurbishment, and inspection measures, linked with this, are
the first step in this direction. All this will definitely make programs
in the area of strategic missile defense a lot more transparent," Lavriov
wrote.New opportunities are opening today for cooperation in missile
defense he said."The Russian Federation proposes that this work should not
be limited to the Russian-American bilateral format, and that other states
concerned and international organizations could also be involved. Our goal
is to create a multilateral security regime, or a so-called 'missile
defense pool,'" the foreign minister said.sd mj(Our editorial staff can be
reached at eng.editors@interfax.ru)Interfax-950040-JEJXCBAA

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113) Back to Top
GM-AVTOVAZ Extends Summer Holidays Amid Heat Wave - ITAR-TASS
Monday August 2, 2010 12:27:42 GMT
intervention)

SAMARA, August 2 (Itar-Tass) - Russia's GM-AVTOVAZ car manufacturer in
Togliatti has extended summer holidays for another week, the press service
of the plant told Itar-Tass on Monday.The sources said "the holidays have
been extended till August 8 in connection with changes in the production
schedule of AVTOVAZ. Announcement on re-start of production will be made
additionally".Summer holidays at the plant began on July 19, but
maintenance work has continued. It was expected that on August 2 the plant
will begin operating in a routine regime, but the heat has introduced
changes.AVTOVAZ supplying car comp onents to GM-AVTOVAZ has stopped
production from August 2 to August 8 because of abnormally high
temperatures. As a result, AVTOVAZ has transferred a ceremony of rolling
off the assembly line the 26-millionth vehicle, which was scheduled for
Monday.GM-AVTOVAZ Is a joint venture set up in Togliatti by Russia' s
AVTOVAZ, American General Motors and the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development. Production was launched on September 23, 2002.In the
first six months this year GM-AVTOVAZ produced 16,454 Chevrolet Niva cars,
which is 58 percent more as compared with the same period last year. In
the first six months of 2010, 16,858 vehicles were shipped to dealers,
including 915 to CIS states. This is 57 percent more than in the first
half of 2009.(Description of Source: Moscow ITAR-TASS in English -- Main
government information agency)

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114) Back to Top
Russia Will Not Let Artyom Savelyev to Be Adopted By U.S. Parents Again -
Ombudsman - Interfax
Monday August 2, 2010 09:48:00 GMT
ombudsman

MOSCOW. Aug 2 (Interfax) - Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Pavel
Astakhov has dismissed U.S. and Russian media reports that Artyom Savelyev
was returned to the orphanage in Partizansk.In April, the boy's adoptive
mother in the U.S. put him on a flight to Russia, with a note stating that
she no longer wanted to parent him."The situation around Artyom Savelyev
is under my permanent control. I am officially dismissing the CNN report,
in which the World Association for Children and Parents (WACAP) claimed
that Artyom Savelyev wa s returned to the orphanage in Partizansk, from
where he might be given up for adoption by another U.S. family," Astakhov
said in a statement obtained by Interfax on Monday."Although the National
Council for Adoption (NCFA) considers Artyom a U.S. citizen, and expresses
hopes to get the child back to the U.S. and even states that the boy now
has potential adoptive parents in America, we will not let this happen,"
the children's ombudsman said."Artyom Savelyev is primarily a Russian
citizen, he will remain in Russia and here a new family will be selected
for him," Astakhov said."For our part, we once again note to the U.S.
authorities that we will not allow them to question Artyom Savelyev. There
are sufficient grounds for investigating the circumstances surrounding his
expulsion from the U.S. and for his adoptive mother Torry Ann Hansen to be
brought to justice. Currently, Artyom Savelyev has almost recovered from
what happened to him and is on holiday at a Russian resort," the statement
said.None of the NCFA representatives has shown interest in Artyom's fate
since the boy returned to Russia, he also said."The situation around
Artyom Savelyev's return has drained the last drop of patience of the
Russian authorities and public and made us raise the question of
toughening international adoption requirements," Astakhov said.It was
reported that several families in Russia wanted to adopt Artyom, but no
final decision on the matter has been made yet.kk dp(Our editorial staff
can be reached at eng.editors@interfax.ru)Interfax-950040-TQGXCBAA

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