Could Annapolis peace conference be the ultimate decider?

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is at a crossroad. The bitter Israeli-Palestinian dispute has for long been dragging on endlessly. One after another peace talks have been held, but everything appears to be stagnated at square one. It is so much so that the embattled Palestinian leader has threatened to resign should the upcoming peace negotiations in Annapolis in the United States fail to deliver any fruitful solution to the age-old problem. After a string of failed peace efforts by the US, President Abbas’s frustration is understandable. The US leans towards Israel in the controversial matter although it tries to project itself as neutral. It is this dual character of the Bush administration that Mr. Abbas doesn’t like. The Annapolis peace conference is expected by many to be a failure. Palestine is in a mess with neither Fatah nor Hamas ready to concede. Palestine depends on the international community for food and other relief aid and the continuing dispute with Israel is proving one scar too many. A few days ago, Israeli leader Mr. Ehud Olmert hinted at the division of the holy city of Jerusalem between the Israelis and the Palestinians. This is perceived by many observers as a closer step towards the creation of a Palestinian, which the US believes is the ultimate solution to the problem. Mr. Abbas is also concerned about the suspected infiltration of the Gaza Strip by al Qaeda and other militant organizations. Although he is quite proud of the fact that his Fatah security forces have been able to stop the infiltration of militants into Israeli cities, he is worried that his own region could pay the price. Although it would be hard to hard no to be pessimistic about one more peace effort to secure a solution to the Middle East crisis, at least one can hope that at least the Israeli and Palestinian authorities can agree on certain points. Image Source: MSNBC Source: Ipost

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Trading upon Israel-Iran animosity?

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

A major military exercise carried out by Israel earlier this month has given rise to the speculation of a possible military aggression against Iranian nuclear establishments by Israel. Rumors doing the rounds in media are strongly supported by US officials. Greek air force’s central command too has come up with the revelation that it had taken part in a joint exercise with Israel off the Mediterranean island of Crete on May 28 and June 12. It was code named “Glorious Spartan 08.” The exercise involved 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighters. While this report warrants a serious scrutiny, media assigned it a form that demonstrated Israel’s serious concern over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The result was that senior Iranian cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami warned Israel of a strong repercussion if it nurtured armed designs against Iran. Most probably, the report of this joint military exercise brought the June 6 statement of Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz to the fore of his brain, in which Mofaz had warned that Iran would face attack if it did not halt its nuclear weapons program. To prevent this scenario from collapsing into a state of international political conflagration, the UN too switched into its hyperactive mode. However, the impression of the US ambassador in the UN Zalmay Khalilzad made one suspect the whole issue. He referred simply to media reports while making his point in the house. Speaking to media, he improvised, “We’re in the phase of diplomacy, we want a diplomatic settlement of this issue.” The US administration too subtly whipped up unpleasantries by its behaviour. Veiled indecision of President George Bush was clear when he murmured that he prefers a diplomatic solution though he did not ruled out using force (against Iran). Back at home, spokesman Sean McCormack of the State Department in Washington was circumspect. Sensing acrimony in the air, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was gurgling his nation’s marked dichotomy of “no-proof-Iran-is-developing-nuclear-weapons” in a Moscow speech. In the meantime, a strong talk about what happens if Israel really attacks Iran is raging the world. A strategy analysis says that If force is used by Israel, their options would be several raids on the scale of Operation Eldorado Canyon or the Osirak Raid with almost no chance of permanently stopping the Iranian nuclear program or even significantly delaying it. Then, blocking Iranian trade and preemptive nuclear attacks too have been reached at with the conclusion that the first two will not stop Iran and the third will likely be too politically costly for Israel. This whole episode needs to be discussed in a class of the political art of whipping up mutual hatred and distaste among nations. No one can say that such exercises of reading unnecessary messages between the lines have helped anyone since the days of German unification under Bismarck. Image Credit: Doctorbulldog Source: The Raw Story

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US military kills more civilians during Iraq raid

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

The US military strategy in Iraq has once more been put to the sword. The fiction between the US officials and the Iraqi authorities is going to increase even more in the wake of another US raid all gone wrong. The center of the controversy this time is Sadr City, which is yet to be purified of militants and terrorists. In an effort to capture an Iran-linked militant in the city, the US embarked on a raid that appears to have gone horribly wrong. As much as the US military may deny the death of innocent civilians, the stark, naked truth is that there were a number of causalities. 13 civilian deaths have been reported by the Iraqi police with the number expected to rise. Two toddlers have been discerned killed too. No fewer than 69 people have been reported injured in the incident although on the positive side, 49 gunmen have been confirmed dead in the ferocious fighting. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has never eclipsed his frustration and resentment at the excessive force used by the US forces in Iraq to counter the rising insurgency. Although the PM knows that without the US presence in Iraq his nation would crumble in the wake of escalating sectarian violence, he has never backed down from demonstrating his disenchantment at the rampant way that the US soldiers appear to use their weapons in public places. The war in Iraq goes on. But since the end of last year, civilian causalities have been increasing consistently and most of the deaths have been due to fighting between the US troops and the insurgents. The Iraqi people have already paid much in the last 4 years since the US invasion of Iraq and they are still paying. Image Source: Timeinc Source: Yahoo News

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Kurdish rebels kill 12 Turkish soldiers in ambush

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

Kurdish guerrillas killed 17 Turkish soldiers in an ambush yesterday, which resulted in crisis talks in Ankara to weigh a military strike against rebel bases in Iraq. If my memory is right, this attack is the worst in more than a decade by rebels of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The pivotal factor here is that this attack has came four days after Turkey’s parliament overwhelmingly approved a motion to allow troops to enter northern Iraq to fight guerrillas hiding there. In my opinion, United States should take drastic measures against the PKK. On the other hand, Abdul Rahman al-Chaderchi, a PKK spokesman, said Kurdish fighters did the attack because Turkish troops were implementing war games near the border. President George W. Bush has expectedly condemned the attacks and said that there is no place for these attacks in today’s world and it should be stopped immediately. But Mr. Bush this will only happen if the United States, Turkey and Iraq will continue to stand together to defeat the PKK terrorists. Washington Post

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Rocket Attack threatens Ehud Olmert’s Leadership in Israel

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin

Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, due to face parliament dissolution bill, has lost last chance to make ceasefire negotiations with Hamas mediated by Egypt work in his favour. A rocket attack on Israeli border town of Sderot from Hamas controlled Gaza strip not only violated ceasefire within five days, but is also likely to cost Ehud Olmert his office. Knesset, Israeli Parliament, is set to vote for a bill for its dissolution today. Faced with growing opposition demand to step down or face the bill, the Israeli Prime Minister tried his best to overcome domestic troubles by forging new diplomatic openings and dialogue to give peace a chance in Middle East. He was hopeful that six-month ceasefire with Hamas and dialogue with Syria and Lebanon will get more votes for him. But the rocket attack violating truce might change it all. Now nothing can bail him out of the situation. His main coalition partners Labour and Shas are now likely to go along the opposition. The opposition needs two third of 120 MPs to vote in favour of dissolution. Israel looks all set for new elections and new Prime Minister before the end of this year. Islamic Jihad of Hamas attacked because one of its local militant commanders was killed in West Bank. Israel has kept West Bank out of preview of truce negotiations and ceasefire and Mahmoud Abbas, the moderate President of the Palestinian Authority, retains total control over it. Peace in West Bank and Gaza strip has forever eluded Middle East. It can slip through small loop-holes in the negotiations of ceasefire and truce with all factions. It was wrong of Ehud Olmert to bank on elusive peace and ceasefire to work for him to overcome domestic woes. Source: TimesOnline

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Iraqis getting anxious of US military tactics

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin

With the situation in Iraq hardly improving, a strong disagreement has occured between the coalition government and the US forces over some of the miltary operations aimed at the insurgents. The Iraqi government and the US forces firmly disagree over the civilian casualty figures during various anti-insurgency raids. Although it is a fact that ordinary Iraqis often get caught in the crossfires but the Americans have blamed the government of quoting absurdly high casualty figures compared to official military estimates. The coalition government in Baghdad fears that a rising civilian casualty would definitely make the situation more complex and dire. Powerful extremist groups will regroup and take the advantage of the people’s miseries by recruiting young Iraqis to fight coalition forces and the Iraqi government. With a crumbling economy and unemployment at an all-time high, the lives of ordinary people across the devastated country are unbearable and such a situation gives terrorist organisation of Al-Qaeda’s nature a perfect excuse to carry out more attacks in the country and make the security situation beyond any repair. Last week a rare deal between a Shia and a Sunni group in Baghdad to stop violence and start negotiations has given the government and the US army a flicker of hope of a broader ceasefire. But the latest US attack on an insurgent hideout, in which 15 civilians were killed, has made the Iraqi government nervous about the consequences. Many government analysts and politicians believe that the continuous killings of innocent civilians, especially women and children, would give rise to popular anger against the country’s government and all hopes of a possible reconciliation among the conflicting parties would vanish in the air. Al-Qaeda has already launched a veiled attack on those tribal and insurgent groups that have shown their intent to take the path of negotiations rather than meaningless conflicts. The feared terrorist organisation has called on the Shias, Sunnis and Kurds to unite and launch attacks on the US-led government. Political and military strategists believe that this is a clear sign of a possible rift among various ethnic groups in the country. A long-drawn bloody conflict since the fall of Saddam Hussein might have taken the toll on some of the influential Shia, Sunni and Kurdish groups. As a result the Iraqi government believes that this is the high time to win the hearts of the people of Iraq in general and calls on the Americans to reduce the air and ground assault in order to improve the situation. link:guardian image link:stockphototalk

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Mideast Agreement must pass through Knesset

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin

Neither Israel nor the Palestinians seems to leave their claim over a disputed holy site in the Old City. The unspoken war that left many died, and displaced is still on from both sides. Historically, Washington has played very prominent role in establishing peace with in region, but it has not been fully successful in its efforts. In the recent update of events related to Jerusalem, the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is seeking parliamentary approval to reach a joint agreement with the Palestinians that says Israel to giving up parts of Jerusalem or other main concessions sought by the Palestinians. Olmert, who is running a coalition government has been warned by his hawkish allies to withdraw support from the government if he agrees to such steps. The problems for Olmert does not stop here, he has to face Knesset, the legislature of Israel to pass any agreement regarding issues of political-military importance. The Knesset can pass any laws by a simple majority, even those that conflict with the basic law of Israel. Apart from this, Palestinians have made clear that they want a detailed declaration about the main issues that are the causes of disagreement between Israel and the Palestinians from many decades. The Palestinians want the proper defined borders of a Palestinian state, the status of Jerusalem and the fate of Palestinian refugees. Above all, the claim over a disputed holy site in the Old City in Jerusalem should be discussed by leaders of both regions. Is the frequent trips of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice depicts the America’s efforts to appease growing Arab anger originated due to its actions in Iraq? Yes! It is true that President Bush is in trouble; many of his domestic and international initiatives are floundering. Due to on-going wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is rampant anti-American sentiment globally, especially among the Arab and Muslim publics. Now the U.S. government is seeking a new and better way to help Israel to establish peace with the Palestinians and other Arab states. Via Image

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Saeed Jalili may prove to be a hard nut to crack for the IAEA

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin

The shocking resignation of Iran’s nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani has brought to light the deep ideological infighting that exists within the Iranian leadership. Although Larijani is a conservative, he is not considered to be a political ally of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Western analysts say that the former nuclear negotiator was getting frustrated with the hardline stance that his president has taken regarding the nuclear standoff with the west. Saeed Jalili, the little-known deputy foreign minister, is a former revolutionary guard quite close to the Ayatollah and president Ahmadinejad. Many say he carries the voice of the president and the Ayatollah and as a result the West can expect further hardening of Iranian stance regarding the nuclear standoff under his new negotiating powers. Leading political analyst Mohammad Sadegh Al-Hosseini believes that the appointment of Saeed Jalili is a clear indication that president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wants to spread his control over the nuclear policy ahead of parliamentary elections in March, 2008 and the presidential polls in 2009. This appointment is regarded as the first step of consolidating the power of president Ahmadinejad in the country’s political scenario. But some Iranians feel that Mr.Larijani resigned from his post due to his own political ambitions, which is getting elected as a member of parliament. It will be interesting to see how the west and the IAEA get on with the new Iranian nuclear negotiator. Given his relatively limited experience on international negotiations in addition to a hardline attitude similar to his provocative president, the world might have a tough time in making Iran come clean on its real intentions of procuring nuclear energy. Link: Reuters

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Is Iran triggering a nuclear arms race in the Middle East?

Posted on January 24, 2012 by admin

Is Iran’s controversial nuclear program starting a nuclear arms race in the Middle East? If a report by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) is to be believed, then at least 13 countries in the region are exploring plans to start nuclear energy programs or revive their pre-existing nuclear programs. While it is too early to say with certainty the intention of these countries, but besides nuclear threat from Iran, soaring energy prices is seen as a major reason for these countries to explore possibilities of building nuclear reactors. For Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia, it is the desire for acquiring energy independence, but for countries like Egypt and Turkey, besides the energy need it is a way of asserting their prominence in the region that is creating interest in developing nuclear programs. However, for the oil-rich Saudi Arabia nuclear projects would mean development of nuclear arsenals to act as a deterrent against archrival Iran. However, for most countries of the Middle East the huge cost of the nuclear projects, environmental concerns and the long time span required in developing nuclear reactors from the scratch means that none of these countries could develop their nuclear capabilities to rival that of Iran’s in the near future. Despite all the brouhaha over Iran’s atomic energy programs created by White House, experts say that much of the dangers are over hyped. Although dangers of nuclear bombs cannot be ruled out, but nonetheless it is true that Iran needs a nuclear weapon to protect itself. This is the very reason that made U.S.A, Russia, China, France, Britain, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea develop their weapon programs. In fact, while U.S.A and its allies are pointing their fingers at Iran for triggering a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, they are overlooking the fact that Israel has build an estimated 100 to 200 warheads, much larger than what Iran could marshal for years to come. Source: msnbc Image

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Bush cries hoarse for Peace from the Kurds

Posted on January 24, 2012 by admin

The best solution to resolve the issues of poverty and economic inequality in the world is to just murder all those who are poor. At least in the case of the impoverished and oppressed Kurds this is definitely the best solution. The very race and existence of the Kurds constitute what is known as the Kurdish-problem. This is what the US and its ally Turkey intends to do if things go really out of control. Just as an aside, one wants to know how a whole race of people can become a ‘problem’. Indeed why is there not a ‘US problem’ or for that matter, a ‘British problem’ considering the fact that these two nations have really created too much problems for too many people? The Turkish Kurds united themselves under the banner of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in the early 1980s mainly to protest the indifference of Turkey towards their problems. They later formed coalitions with the Iraqi Kurds. Now the Kurds carry on their fight to retain control of Kirkuk in Iraq. To this end there were skirmishes between them and the Turks. The Kurds felt that without this preemptive move, Turkey might force Kirkuk out of their control. And who should immediately run to the rescue? The answer is predictable and easy. The US President George Bush did not waste any time in expressing his concern and has assured Turkey of his commitment to non-violence in the region. Interestingly, Bush has assured Turkey of pressuring the Iraqi Government to control the Iraqi Kurds. If Bush can openly pressure nations to obey him, think of what he may be up to covertly. Bush definitely wants a piece of the oil-pie when and if ever Turkey and mainstream Iraq defeats the Kurds. Though Kurdish rebels have offered truce to Turkey if the latter stops assaults in its remote hideouts in Iraq, it does not seem that their problems are yet over. The Los Angeles Times have reported that the US President has held talks with both the Iraqi and the Turkish officials. In those talks he roundly condemned terrorism in all its forms. A noble enterprise but what he accomplished very subtly is to denounce the Kurds. Iraqi Kurdistan is the dream-nation for the refugee Kurds and their access to huge resources of oil will not let Bush rest from creating a furore there. All in the name of peace. The last few days have seen frantic activity at the diplomatic level. The Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan visited Baghdad where he did the usual diplomatic rounds and yet returned home with the smug knowledge that for once Turkey had the international upper hand. The US remains deeply obliged to Turkey for the use of Turkish land and resources for maintaining large US military bases there. In this grim situation one cannot help but smile at the US discomfort. Turkey has always been a fierce nation and one doubts whether if it wins any oil fields, will it share so readily with the US. By the way, every fight in the Middle East where the US or Europe is concerned is only a fight for oil. Image: The Age Via: LA Times

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