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Sunday,
July 20, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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USA may seek UN
help in Iraq Bush didn’t ‘fully read’ report on Iraq US soldier killed in Iraq N. Korea ‘deploys’ long-range missiles
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Window on Pakistan Heathrow strike
hits 80,000 passengers Sharon’s visit to boost Indo-Israel ties
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USA may seek UN help in Iraq United Nations, July 19 But at this stage, diplomats say, no one has any idea what kind of a UN resolution will bring in help and persuade nations to send soldiers. Politically, seeking UN help will be an admission by hardliners that the oft-mentioned “coalition of the willing” was indeed a slim one, they said. “There are a broader range of questions to be settled before there is a basis for countries like India or France to join the operation,” Britain’s UN Ambassador, Mr Jeremy Greenstock, told reporters late yesterday. Nearly 34 American soldiers have been killed since hostilities were declared officially ended on May 1, bringing the U.S. death toll to 148, higher than American fatalities in the 1991 Gulf War. No resolution is expected to emerge until well after UN Security Council members hear a report on Tuesday from Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN special envoy to Iraq. He will appear before the 15-nation body along with three members of the new Iraqi Governing Council, who could appeal to UN members to join a peacekeeping effort. Exactly what role the UN could assume is unclear. UN officials have spoken against a “blue helmet” peacekeeping force and emphasised that security is the responsibility of the occupying powers, the USA and Britain. Should Washington want funds, contributors may insist on keeping some control over them, through the UN or by another system.
— Reuters |
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Bush didn’t ‘fully read’ report on Iraq Washington, July 19 The excerpts from a classified October 2002 intelligence document indicated that the six US intelligence agencies believed that there was compelling evidence that Saddam was reconstituting a uranium enrichment effort for Baghdad’s nuclear weapons programme. The document also pointed out the dissent expressed by the State Department’s intelligence arm, which had said evidence did not add up to a compelling case that Iraq was making a comprehensive effort to get nuclear weapons and that The claim was discredited by the UN as being based on forgeries and the White House admitted that it was a mistake to include the claim in Bush’s State of the Union address. The head of the CIA had taken the blame. A senior White House administration officer who briefed reporters on the report’s release also pointed out that neither Bush nor Rice had read the national intelligence estimate, the classified 90-page summary, in its entirety. The summary of the document, released yesterday, said most agencies believed that Saddam’s personal interest in and Iraq’s aggressive attempts to obtain nuclear weapons material provided compelling evidence that Saddam was reconstituting a uranium enrichment effort for Baghdad’s nuclear weapons programme. The report cited high confidence within the intelligence community that Iraq could make a nuclear weapon once it acquired sufficient weapons-grade fissile material. “They did not read the 90-page document,” the official was quoted as saying by the Washington Post, referring to the annexure that contained the State Department’s dissent.
— PTI |
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US soldier killed in Iraq Baghdad, July 19 The soldier was shot yesterday evening and died of his wounds, said specialist Brian Sharkey. No further details were immediately available. His death raises to 35 the number of US soldiers killed by hostile fire since an end to major combat operations in Iraq was declared on May 1. More US troops have now died in combat since entering the country than all those killed during action in the 1991 Gulf War.
— AFP |
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N. Korea ‘deploys’ long-range missiles Seoul, July 19 With tensions high on the peninsula, the ministry also said North Korean artillery had been brought closer to Seoul. ‘’Recently, the North has deployed one additional Rodong missile battalion to reinforce military capabilities and has moved forward 170 mm and 240 mm cannon, increasing its threat to the South’s metropolitan area,’’ the ministry said in a white paper on defence policy. In a rare incident, the North fired on an observation post in the demilitarised zone, the peninsula’s fortified frontier, on Thursday, raising tension just as Pyongyang appeared set to return to talks on its nuclear ambitions. The ministry said North Korea’s Scud B/C missiles had a range of 300 km to 500 km and its Rodong 1 missiles, whose numbers were being reinforced, could reach 1,300 km. The Taepodong 2 missile, with a range of 6,000 km, was now being developed, the ministry said in the document, a book-sized review of South Korea’s defence situation. South Korea’s population is within easy reach of such ballistic missiles, which are difficult or impossible to intercept. The northern outskirts of Seoul are 40 km from the demilitarised zone so the capital can be brought under fire even by artillery, especially heavy guns such as the 170 mm and 240 mm pieces mentioned in the white paper. Japan is only about 500 km from North Korea.
— Reuters |
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Window on Pakistan When Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf unfolded his new foreign policy enterprise, first offering to recognise Israel and second to send troops to help the beleaguered Americans in Iraq, he clearly had his own survival in mind. For the past three-and-a-half years, the General has been trying hard to seek legitimacy. Blowing hot and cold on Kashmir and trying to be a friend and a foe at the same time with India and Afghanistan, Pakistan’s two immediate neighbours, has been the benchmark of his foreign policy. Similar has been his approach towards the Taliban. He provided military and moral support and when his own survival was at stake, he ditched it. This new move is hinged on a mere survival game. Not only are the people of Pakistan fed up with the army’s exploitative rule, but the elite and some of his colleagues from the army have been at his neck. But then, his move to send Pakistani soldiers to Iraq stands punctured, courtesy India. “ If India, a largely Hindu country, refuses to send troops to that hapless country why should an Islamic country like Pakistan be so enthusiastic?” So ran the argument in the elite circles of Pakistan. Commenting on this situation, Dawn’s columnist Ayaz Amir mocked. “To confound matters further, India, as ever treacherous, has failed to come marching to the rescue. For once in 55 years — soon to be 56 — the strategic aspirations of India and Pakistan were stretched along the lines of the same fallacy. The proud armies of both countries were eager to find service under Uncle Sam, eager to beat one another to the draw, eager to stand higher in American favour. But faced with stiff opposition at home, the Indian Government failed the test of compliance and decided finally not to send troops to Iraq.” Nevertheless, there is a hot debate in the media on these two issues. One issue for the time being has been settled. But then, the recognition of Israel is a tough proposition. Most Pakistani politicians and many in the army know that this will exasperate Arab public opinion. So what kind of fig leaf is there to meet the hostile reception which the idea has received? One, can it be that let Israel first recognise the state of Palestine or whatever is left of it and then legitimately declare its diplomatic ties with that Jewish country. Two, let General Musharraf find other ways and means to ward off American pressure and please that country by some other means and Pakistan follow other Islamic countries in not recognising Israel till Palestinians are happily settled in their homeland and there is peace in that part of the world. |
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Heathrow strike
hits 80,000 passengers London, July 19 The unannounced strike, which began Friday afternoon when 250 ground personnel refused to work in protest against planned new work regulations, resulted in all 360 planned arrivals and departures from Terminal One being cancelled today. There were also cancellations at Terminal Four. Hundreds of intending passengers were left stranded overnight at the airport in what was to have been one of the biggest weekends of the holiday season. According to stranded passengers, all check-in desks at the terminal were closed. The police reportedly had to be called after frustrated passengers came to blows. Trade unionists were striving to persuade the strikers to end their unofficial agitation.
— DPA |
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Sharon’s visit to boost Indo-Israel ties Jerusalem, July 19 The Army Radio reported on Thursday that the upcoming visit was expected to give a boost to bilateral ties, with cooperation in combating terrorism to figure prominently. On the recent overtures from Pakistan towards recognising Israel, the sources said the visit was also a strong signal to Pakistan that Israel’s relations with India were special and that it would in no way be affected by Pakistan’s recognition of Israel. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said it was an important Muslim country in the region, adding that this would in no way affect the strong ties with India. The sources brushed aside a report on the Army Radio that the likely visit was to take place next month.
— UNI |
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