Would it make any difference to the predestined lot of this divided Indian Geopolitics of graded inequality, inherent injustice and brahminical Hegemony?
Palash Biswas
Contact: Palash C Biswas, C/O Mrs Arati Roy, Gosto Kanan, Sodepur, Kolkata- 700110, India. Phone: 91-033-25659551
Email: alashbiswaskl@gmail.com">palashbiswaskl@gmail.com
Would it make any difference to the predestined lot of this divided Indian Geopolitics of graded inequality, inherent injustice and brahminical Hegemony? Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Prithviraj Chavan has urged the space-faring nations to promote an ethical, legal framework for the use of space and to prevent it from becoming “a future war zone.
Is he serious enough or just expressing another dimention of ongoing Parlimentary Soap Opera exposing too much skin without any sensivity or sense altogether? Does it mean anything while the ruling comradors have opened every door and window to welcome Imperialist to have a kill!New milestones for benchmark stock indices are in sight after domestic stocks soared for the fifth straight session today on strong inflows by foreign investments.He may not have read ‘In Search of Excellence’ by Tom Peters, but MS Dhoni has scripted a success story as the team leader in Twenty20 World Cup that could serve as a lesson for business leaders.Hearts kept pounding and blood pressure kept soaring until Sreesanth took the catch off Joginder to see the back of Misbah and thereby send the thousands of viewers into raptures!
Would this really make any difference to the detorioting general health of Indian Polity ,devoid of freedom and sovereignity?Next time you go to the hospital for a routine check up, you may get examined for HIV too. Private hospitals have started out examining all patients for HIV/AIDS, without seeking their permission or providing them guidance. Who is going to pay the towering Bills? A generation of children is at risk of fatty liver disease because they eat too many starchy foods, new research suggests. Rapidly digested carbohydrates found in foods from white bread and potatoes to instant oatmeal cause fat to accumulate in the ...
The fact that more than 80 Heads of State and Government would come together at Monday’s high-level event on climate change in New York was a sign of the growing consensus on the need for the international community to act on climate change, ... Should we feel some relief that perhaps the Post Modern Manusmrirti Galaxy Order has dropped the idea to colonise this Earth, the planet and at last Man as well as Nature would be spared? See, for whom the Bells toll!Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology A. Raja (right) along with MTNL Chiarman and Managing Director RSP Sinha, launching the ’Nova NetPC’ in New Delhi on Monday. Contrarily to Eviction and Killing Rural India International MNC drive,Indian Commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath barks in New York, the government will ensure there are no job losses in the retail sector even as he sought to place the retail FDI issue in the context of the big retail-versus-small retail controversy! The new Avtar of God ram speaks on and we have to believe! So? European space agency has released the images of displaying the legendary Northwest Passage. Arctic ice has shrunk to the lowest level in last 30 years since the satellite imaging was started.
India went the whole hog seeking investments from Americans as well Indian-Americans, as it launched a four-day programme to promote India as a brand and a credible destination for parking funds. While the country's capacity to consume 475 billion dollars in infrastructure development over the next five years has been well articulated, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath highlighted the investment opportunities at separate events as part of the Incredible India@60 week. "New York was not chosen by accident for organising this event. It was a deliberate choice. It is the heart of the US and melting pot of diverse cultures," Mukherjee said, launching the four-day event, which he dubbed as an outstanding endeavour to highlight opportunities for trade, investment and tourism.
All future Indian nuclear plants under civilian domain could be placed under the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) safeguard mechanism that could be on par with the mechanism for the five declared nuclear powers.
Without creating a separate India specific safeguards, IAEA sources indicated that in all probability, all the future Indian nuclear plants under civilian domain could be placed under the agency's safeguards system of 1965, as provisionally extended in 1966 and 1968.
That means, India can benefit the safeguard mechanisms (campaign safeguards) which are reactor specific and utility specific and would be closer to the five nuclear weapon (P-5) countries and not as a non-weapon state (country), the sources told a news agency.
This could be essentially on the same lines as that of safeguard arrangement made between India and IAEA for two units of Tarapur atomic power plants set up in 1969 (by General Electric, US) and two units Rajasthan (from Canada) in 1971.
Monarchy or no monarchy? Abolition or retention? , one of the contentious issue among the parties in Nepal came to the surface and Maoists just decided to quit the Government pushing the country to another phase of uncertainty. With Nawaz Sharif’s deportation and the announcement of Benazir Bhutto’s return without a power-sharing deal with the government, the political scenario in Pakistan seems to be changed ahead of the general elections to set ....
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad defended his nation's record on human rights on Monday as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the UN and Columbia University to protest appearances by the hard-line leader.Human rights activists inside and outside Iran have decried a recent wave of arrests of people calling for political and legal reforms of the Iranian theocratic system.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a television interview to the CBS programme made it clear that Iran doesn’t need nuclear weapons and his country is not heading towards a war with United States. Just before leaving for United Nations General ....
''People in Iran are very joyous, happy people,'' he told a National Press Club audience that questioned him about the arrests of students, journalists and women. ''They're very free in expressing what they think.''He said women in Iran were ''the freest women in the world. They're active in every level of society.''
ALKA S PANDE reports for Expressindia.com:
Both Meerut and Lucknow cities have roads named after Major General Sir Henry Havelock, who, in England, is considered a hero of 1857 British-India war. But 150 years after his death, when his great great grandson Sir Mark Allen Havelock plans a visit to offer homage at his ancestor’s grave, both cities will welcome him and his peers with brickbats.
Three days ago, in Meerut, Havelock and his companions were not allowed to offer a plaque at St John’s Church.
The reason? The plaque read: “To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the bravery and distinguished service of the First Battalion, the 60th King’s Royal Rifle Corps...”
The citation confused people. Soon, rumours spread that the British were celebrating “Vijay Diwas” and demonstrations were held. In Agra, where the British group had gone only to get a glimpse of the Taj, demonstrations were held again. The gates of hotel Hilton, where they were staying, had to be locked for their safety.
Amid a flurry of high-level bilateral contacts and positive remarks, the Special Representatives of India and China on Monday kicked off a crucial round of boundary negotiations in Beijing, raising hopes for further progress in resolving the vexed issue.National Security Adviser M K Narayanan, who is India's Special Representative, arrived in Beijing on Monday afternoon and soon after met with his Chinese counterpart, Dai Bingguo, also the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister for informal talks, sources said.The 11th round of boundary negotiations will be held from Tuesday and will last till Wednesday. The latest round of in-camera boundary negotiations are taking place ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's planned visit to China later this year.The last round was held in India in April.
On the other hand,Taiwan and China are gearing up for another season of escalating tensions that many, including Chinese President Hu Jintao, are calling a "high-risk period" for cross-strait relations. Taipei's announcement Friday that the Olympic torch will not pass through Taiwan was one of the first major embarrassments for Beijing as it gears up for next August's Olympics.
Meanwhile, the island-nation's ruling party is pushing to join the United Nations under the name "Taiwan" – a bid the UN General Assembly rejected last Wednesday. But Taiwan plans to force the issue by holding a referendum that appears planned to help the party drum up nationalistic sentiment ahead of a presidential election next March. The US government, keen to avoid a conflict, has taken an unusually strong public stance against the vote, which officials see as a foolish provocation.
Taiwan's UN referendum may be timed for maximum political effect. But it's tapped a powerful current of Taiwanese national pride whose implications extend far beyond the next election. Beijing fears that nationalistic trend, and Washington has little sympathy for it, but in the coming years, both may well have to come to terms with it to avoid confrontation.
China sees the referendum as a step toward formal independence, which it's threatened to prevent by military force if necessary. The US, which has pledged to help defend Taiwan against Chinese aggression, wants to nip any cross-strait spat in the bud. But the island's ruling party looks set to press ahead with the referendum in order to fire up supporters before they go to the polls in March.
From YANGON, Reuters reports:
Tens of thousands of people joined streams of Buddhist monks on marches through Myanmar's capital on Monday in the biggest demonstration against the ruling generals since they crushed student-led protests nearly 20 years ago.In the northwest coastal town of Sittwe, residents said it seemed entire population of more than 100,000 people was marching with the monks.Protests were also held in Mandalay, where 10,000 monks and people took to the streets, and in Bago, just north of Yangon.
"I'm very excited and frankly I'm worried too," a teacher said as she watched the massed opposition to 45 years of army rule that has impoverished the nation of 53 million people.
"I've never seen such a big crowd in my life. The whole town came out," one said.
In Yangon, five columns of maroon-robed monks, one stretching more than a kilometre (nearly a mile), marched from the Shwedagon Pagoda, the devoutly Buddhist country's holiest shrine, to the city centre where thousands of people filled five blocks.
"People locked arms around the monks. They were clapping and cheering," a witness said on the sixth day of marches by monks, some of them carrying placards calling for "Better Living Conditions" and the "Release of Political Prisoners".
Another banner said: "May The Peoples' Desire Be Fulfilled".
After holding prayers at the Sule Pagoda in the main business district, a crowd estimated at up to 100,000 marched to another pagoda and dispersed peacefully.
For the first time, the marchers included members of parliament elected in 1990 from the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) two days after a dramatic appearance of support for the monks by detained NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
''Undeniably there are some outstanding issues between China and India but we have established guiding political principles to seek solutions to these issues,'' Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said recently.
''I believe that as long as the two sides demonstrate sincerity and patience and uphold the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit and mutual understanding, we are bound to find solutions to this issue. Both China and India value universal love and harmony,'' he added.
However Chinese experts are not very optimistic that an early solution could be found to the protracted boundary issue that has marred the normal development of Sino-Indian relations.
BJP is not alone in opposing the entry of the British to Lucknow but even Muslim organisations and clerics have joined them by warning the government not to allow the British enter the capital. Humming the same tune as that of BJP they also demanded that state government should ban their entry in the state capital, Lucknow.
This is to be known that a group of retired British soldiers and civilians including the descendants of the soldiers who took part in the battle are on a visit to the trail of sites where British Army suppressed the rebellion.
All India Muslim Morcha (AIMM) has warned of repeating the history in the sense that it would lay siege to the residency, a protected historical monument now, where bloody battle was fought between the freedom fighters of 1857 revolt and the British soldiers of the (QRR) Queen’s Rifle Regiment.
Muslim clerics said that holding of any function to celebrate the victory of British soldiers would be a humiliation to those who sacrificed their life for the freedom of the country. Wonderful thing was that they echoed the same sentiments as Hindu nationalist party BJP.
BJP also warned that it will hold demonstrations against the visit of the British at residency. Party has also decided to mark Monday as ‘Shaurya Diwas’ to show their respect for the Indian soldiers.
Lalji Tondon, a senior BJP leader said that their party will not allow the group of the British at any rate as they are the family members of the killers of our freedom-fighters.
Respecting the sentiments of the people even state government has said that no function to celebrate the British victory in 1857 Sepoy Mutiny would be allowed to be held but at the same time state government expressed no objection on their paying homage to their forefathers.
Principal Home secretary, J N Chamber rejecting the demand of ban on the entry of the Britons said, “There is no problem if someone wants to pay homage to his forefathers in a peaceful manner but we shall not allow any celebrations.”
Secretary, MASUM, addressing to the public
Attack on human rights defender:
Latest updates
masumNEWSLETTER
Gopen Sharma had been roped in a criminal case which had been sent for policeinvestigation in Jalangi Police Station, Murshidabad from the court of ChiefJudicial Magistrate, Baharampur under section 156(3) of Criminal procedureCode on 1st August 2007.
On 4.8.2007, an application under section 438 of Criminal Procedure Code foranticipatory bail was filed in District and Sessions Judge of Murshidabad onbehalf of Gopen Sharma vide Criminal Miscellaneous case number 1998/2007.The court was pleased to call for a report from the Officer-in-Charge of JalangiPolice Station and the date of hearing of anticipatory bail application had beenfixed on 9.8.2007. Today on 9.8.2007, the police did not submit any reportbefore the court of District and Sessions Judge, Murshidabad. The court waspleased to direct the police to submit report over the matter. The advocate,Baren Roy appeared on behalf of Gopen Sharma.
Another development took place in connection with the case, Jalangi PoliceStation case number 25/05 under section 498A/307 of Indian penal Code ofGopen Sharma where he has been facing trial. The date on 4.8.2007 was fixedfor evidence of Bulu Sharma was to depose before the court on that day. But itwas detected that in the Cause List maintained by the court, the date of casewas fixed on 24.8.2007, in police file it was on 6.8.2007, but in the order sheetof the court the date was 4.8.2007. Bulu Sharma w/o Gopen Sharma was presentin the court on 4.8.2007 but no work has been done on the date in the court inthis case. Next date has been fixed for recording evidence of Bulu Sharma on6.8.2007. But surprisingly, on 6.8.2007, no evidence could be recorded as thewitness, Bulu Sharma did not get any summons from the court to depose. nextdate was again fixed on 6.9.2008 for evidence of Bulu Sharma.
It is sorry state of affair that the case was delayed further due to lacunae in thecourt proceeding. it is seriously apprehended that the case will be furtherdelayed and the accused Gopen Sharma will be harassed by attending court onregular basis.
PUBLISHED BY MASUM, 26, GUITENDAL LANE, HOWRAH-1, WEST BENGAL, INDIA
5
Activities
9 -10 July – Mr. Henri Tiphagne, Exe. Director, Peoples’ Watch visited MASUM office
14 -16 July – MASUM’s family tour at Digha
28th July –Public Meeting on Model Taluk Initiative at Shekhpara and Sadekhan’s Dear, Murshidabad
29th July- Teachers’ Awareness Programme – Murshidabad at Ajimgunj Railway Institute, Ajimgunj.
29th July – Attended citizen’s meet against Coastal Zone Management Notification at Seva Kendra
Hello
Kindly forward this newsletter to your friends and encourage them to join this mailing list. http://www.counterc urrents.org/ subscribe. htm . And also visit this url and do what you can to popularise CC http://countercurre nts.org/poster. htm
In Solidarity
Binu
Ice Withdrawal 'Shatters Record'
By BBC
http://www.counterc urrents.org/ bbc220907. htm
Arctic sea ice shrank to the smallest area on record this year, US scientists have confirmed. The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) said the minimum extent of 4.13 million sq km (1.59 million sq miles) was reached on 16 September
Agriculture In A Post-Oil Economy
By Peter Goodchild
http://www.counterc urrents.org/ goodchild220907. htm
The future will be just like today, only tougher. Oil depletion is basically just a matter of overpopulation — too many people and not enough resources. The most serious consequence will be a lack of food. The problem of oil therefore leads, in an apparently mundane fashion, to the problem of farming
Recession Too Mild A Word
By Pablo Ouziel
http://www.counterc urrents.org/ ouziel220907. htm
The same group of people who lied to the world about the war in Iraq are doing the same about the state of the global economy, and again the public is sleepwalking listening to their lullabies. We could be witnessing the collapse of capitalist model of society as we know it. According to President Bush, however, we are seeing a "thriving" U.S. economy
What Would I Do If I Was A Terrorist?
By Dominic Jermano
http://www.counterc urrents.org/ jermano220907. htm
Can you imagine that; look what Bush has done! He has given DU to terrorists? They don't care if they become contaminated because they would die anyway from their conventional TNT bombs. They can scavenge tanks, and dig up shrapnel that is loaded with radioactive material to put in stingers. They will use it against the USA
Racism And War: Overcoming Us And Them
By Ramzy Baroud
http://www.counterc urrents.org/ baroud220907. htm
Even when it doesn't pertain to race, most people seem to slide easily into greater tribal memberships that divide the world into "us" and "them", often using words of negation and often utilising religion. The "non" factor becomes very useful here: "non-Muslim" , "non-Jew", "non-Christian" , and so on. Such negations are never well intended and always produce negative results
Never Never Land
By Roni Ben Efrat
http://www.counterc urrents.org/ efrat220907. htm
Soon Israel will celebrate its sixtieth year. These have been sixty years of short-sighted bullying. Its lack of willingness to reach a territorial compromise—to pay the price that Arab recognition requires—leads the region each time into deeper strife. The failure of Oslo brought Hamas to power. Now Hamas has become a significant factor. The political arena has become more complicated and more dangerous. The price remains what it has always been
A Truly Inconvenient Truth
By Ira Glunts
http://www.counterc urrents.org/ glunts220907. htm
Review of The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy by John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2007
U.S. On The Warpath With The IAEA
By Dr. Shireen M. Mazari
http://www.counterc urrents.org/ mazari220907. htm
Now we have begun to see a spate of articles targeting ElBaradai in the U.S. and U.S.-controlled print media. Some have been downright abusive with the Washington Post labeling him a "rogue" regulator. Ah that word which has become so central to the Bush era in the U.S. If one is not falling in line with the U.S., then one is a "rogue" of one form or another
Leftists Should Take Care Of Peace And True Democracy
By Hasan Tarique Chowdhury
http://www.counterc urrents.org/ tarique220907. htm
It is the high time for the Nepali Maoists to win over the peoples mind and prove themselves as true peace lover and to achieve their ultimate goal in a democratic manner.Because the there are conspiracies from imperialist forces to portray the leftists of Nepal as undemocratic
Seeds Of Distress: Story Of Cotton Seed Growers In AP
By K.Jayaram
http://www.counterc urrents.org/ jayaram220907. htm
We met many farmers and all of them explained their problems in detail. All of them expressed their desire to withdraw from the seed production. Some farmers are not able to with draw from seed production due to their debt trap. It is very clear from the study that there is an urgent need for shift to farmer centric seed production from company centric seed production
Trumped By A Religious Myth
By Praful Bidwai
http://www.counterc urrents.org/ bidwai220907. htm
Each time the Indian state bends to fundamentalist pressure, it compromises itself, and allows public reason to be trumped by religious belief or private prejudice. This isn't the mark of a society that aspires to modernity, tolerance and pluralism
An Appeal for Support
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Prof. Sison detention extended 90 days
Intensify campaign to free Prof. Sison
A Hague court this morning remanded Filipino revolutionary leader Professor Jose Maria Sison to a further 90 days detention.
The decision of the court was relayed to Luis G. Jalandoni by Prof. Sison's chief counsel, Michiel Pestman. Atty. Pestman also informed Mr. Jalandoni that he will file a petition tomorrow with the Netherlands Court of Appeals to appeal against the unjust decision of The Hague court.
We call on the different Free Joma Sison and DEFEND Committees, supporters and those who uphold civil liberties and human rights to join and intensify the campaign to free Prof. Sison.
You can access the following websites for more information on the global campaign to free Prof. Sison.
www.arkibongbayan.org
www.zumel.com
www.ndfp.net/discussion
www.freejomapetition.org
Hello,
Please read the book "the shame of being an American". It is a
collection of articles written by Americans telling us why they feel
ashamed of being Americans.
Click here
http://www.avantgar depublications. com/shame. pdf
Just read this forwarded message!
Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Rahim
The evidence just keeps streaming in that the enemies of Islam and
Muslims have (and continue) to frame Arabs and Muslims for things they have
not done. No Arab or Muslim person should ever be heard speaking
against the real Mujahideen who are giving up their lives to defend Arab
and Muslim lands everywhere on this planet. The enemy seeks to divide
the Arab/Muslim world via genocidal acts of terror but we must not
believe their lies or allow ourselves to become divided. To date I am
pleased by the unity that has been shown by the Arab and Muslim nation but I
caution you to never lower your guard and continue on the straight
path.
I urge non-Muslims to STOP listening to the LIES being spread by the
government paid media over cable, radio, newspapers, magazines and
satellite. The Zionist New World Order seeks to create excuses through which
it can enslave the citizens of the world. It is the duty of all
humans on the planet to put a stop to the evil plans of the New World Order
before it can intern millions into concentration camps for torture and
death. The enemy is not the Arabs or Muslims but rather the satanic
zionist fascist new world order criminals running the governments of the
world. They are the ones responsible for the horrific acts of terror
happening around the world.
News Update from Citizens for Legitimate Government
13 Sep 2007
http://www.legitgov .org/
http://www.legitgov .org/index. html#breaking_ news
Bush Extends 2001 National Emergency Declaration For One Year --Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Certain Terrorist Attacks (whitehouse. gov) 12 Sep 2007 Consistent with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency I declared on September 14, 2001, in Proclamation 7463, with respect to the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, New York, New York, the Pentagon, and aboard United Airlines flight 93, and the continuing and immediate threat of further attacks on the United States. Because the terrorist threat continues, the national emergency declared on September 14, 2001, last extended on September 5, 2006, and the powers and authorities adopted to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond September 14, 2007. Therefore, I am continuing in effect for an additional year the national emergency I declared on September 14, 2001, with respect to the terrorist threat.
Please forward this update to anyone you think might be interested. Those who'd like to be added to the Newsletter list can sign up: http://www.legitgov .org/#subscribe_ clg.
Please write to: signup@legitgov. org for inquiries.
The 'proxy war': UK troops are sent to Iranian border
http://news. independent. co.uk/world/ middle_east/ article2953462. ece
British soldiers return to action as tensions between US and Iran grow
Exclusive by Kim Sengupta in Baghdad
Published: 12 September 2007
British forces have been sent from Basra to the volatile border with Iran amid warnings from the senior US commander in Iraq that Tehran is fomenting a "proxy war".
In signs of a fast-developing confrontation, the Iranians have threatened military action in response to attacks launched from Iraqi territory while the Pentagon has announced the building of a US base and fortified checkpoints at the frontier.
The UK operation, in which up to 350 troops are involved, has come at the request of the Americans, who say that elements close to the Iranian regime have stepped up supplies of weapons to Shia militias in recent weeks in preparation for attacks inside Iraq.
The deployment came within a week of British forces leaving Basra Palace, their last remaining base inside Basra city, and withdrawing to the airport for a widely expected final departure from Iraq. Brigadier James Bashall, commander of 1 Mechanised Brigade, based at Basra said: "We have been asked to help at the Iranian border to stop the flow of weapons and I am willing to do so. We know the points of entry and I am sure we can do what needs to be done. The US forces are, as we know, engaged in the 'surge' and the border is of particular concern to them."
The mission will include the King's Royal Hussars battle group, 250 of whom were told at the weekend that they would be returning to the UK as part of a drawdown of forces in Iraq.
The operation is regarded as a high-risk strategy which could lead to clashes with Iranian-backed Shia militias or even Iranian forces and also leaves open the possibility of Iranian retaliation in the form of attacks against British forces at the Basra air base or inciting violence to draw them back into Basra city. Relations between the two countries are already fraught after the Iranian Revolutionary Guards seized a British naval party in the Gulf earlier this year.
The move came as General David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq, and Ryan Crocker, the US ambassador to Iraq, made some of the strongest accusations yet by US officials about Iranian activity. General Petraeus spoke on Monday of a "proxy war" in Iraq, while Mr Crocker accused the Iranian government of "providing lethal capabilities to the enemies of the Iraqi state".
In an interview after his appearance before a congressional panel on Monday, General Petraeus strongly implied that it would soon be necessary to obtain authorisation to take action against Iran within its own borders, rather than just inside Iraq. "There is a pretty hard look ongoing at that particular situation" he said.
The Royal Welsh battle group, with Challenger tanks and Warrior armoured vehicles, is conducting out regular exercises at the Basra air base in preparation for any re-entry into the city. No formal handover of Basra to the Iraqi government has yet taken place and the UK remains responsible for maintaining security in the region.
The Iraqi commander in charge of the southern part of the country, General Mohan al-Furayji, said he would not hesitate to call for British help if there was an emergency.
While previous US military action has been primarily directed against Sunni insurgents, it is Shia fighters, which the US accuses Iran of backing, who now account for 80 per cent of US casualties.
For the British military the move to the border is a change of policy. They had stopped patrols along the long border at Maysan despite US concerns at the time that the area would become a conduit for weapons into Iraq.
The decision to return to the frontier has been heavily influenced by the highly charged and very public dispute with the United States. British commanders feel that they cannot turn down the fresh American request for help after refusing to delay the withdrawal from Basra Palace. They also maintain that the operation will stop Iranian arms entering Basra.
Brigadier Bashall said: "We are not sitting here idly at the air bridge. The security of Basra is still our responsibility and we shall act where necessary. We are also prepared to restore order in Basra City if asked to do so."
The US decision to build fortifications at the Iranian border, after four years of presence in Iraq, shows, say American commanders, that the "Iranian threat" is now one of their main concerns.
Maj-Gen Rick Lynch, commander of the US Army's 3rd Infantry Division, said 48 Iranian-supplied roadside bombs had been used against his forces killing nine soldiers. "We've got a major problem with Iranian munitions streaming into Iraq. This Iranian interference is troubling and we have to stop it," he told The Wall Street Journal this week.
Meanwhile at a conference in Baghdad on regional co-operation, Iran claimed the US was supporting groups mounting attacks from Iraqi territory in the Kurdish north.
Said Jalili , Iran's deputy foreign minister, last night said: "I think [the US and its allies] are going to prevaricate with the truth because they know they have been defeated in Iraq and they have not been successful. And so they are going to put the blame on us, on the other side."
http://news. independent. co.uk/europe/ article2956419. ece
France may rejoin military wing of Nato
By John Lichfield in Paris
Published: 13 September 2007
President Nicolas Sarkozy, a self-proclaimed Gaullist, may be ready to reverse one of the most celebrated actions sanctioned by Charles de Gaulle – France's abrupt exit from the military wing of Nato in 1966.
After a hint dropped by M. Sarkozy last month, the country's Defence Minister, Hervé Morin, has raised the possibility of France rejoining the integrated, military structure of the alliance. In return, he suggested, France would want the US to lift its objections to the development of a European Union defence policy linked to Nato. Paris would also want Nato to rethink its overall strategy and structures.
The idea, put forward by M. Morin during a defence summer school at the University of Toulouse, is part of a drive by the President to repair relations between France and the US. It is also a recognition that the European Union defence policy, launched by President Jacques Chirac and Tony Blair at St Malo in December 1998, cannot go far without Washington's blessing.
Since 1966, France has been a member of the Nato alliance but not part of its military high command. Senior French officers have long complained this is an impossible situation.
