Battlelines drawn on Security Council

THE US has outlined its first detailed position on UN Security Council reform, proposing a limited expansion of the permanent membership by two nations - one of them Japan - and foreshadowing a major statement next week on specific criteria to be met by candidate countries.

At the same time, China has told India it will support its bid for permanent membership, but only if New Delhi abandons its collective lobbying with Germany, Japan and Brazil in the grouping known as the G4.

The Chinese initiative was being seen as less about backing for India and more about denying Japan's ambitions for permanent membership, which are supported by most Western nations, including Australia.

Under the US proposal, announced in Washington by Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, Japan would be the first cab off the rank in any Security Council expansion, although it would be denied, along with other new permanent members, the veto powers held by the existing big five: the US, Russia, China, Britain and France.

The US proposal also advocates a limited expansion of non-permanent Security Council membership from 10 to 13.

The US proposal is at odds with two options for Security Council expansion put up by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in a report in March.

Under Mr Annan's preferred model A, the permanent membership would be increased from five to 11 nations, with two of the six newcomers coming from Africa, two from the Asia-Pacific and one each from Europe and the Americas.

But Mr Burns said it was important to look beyond geographic factors, saying military capacity and potential to contribute to UN peacekeeping operations were also important.

He said the US would outline the criteria for eligibility for permanent or non-permanent membership of the Security Council in a major statement to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. Mr Burns indicated the criteria would include adherence to democracy and human rights, financial support for the UN and a good record on counterterrorism and nuclear non-proliferation.

On financial support for the UN, Japan ranks second to the US and has been a major contributor to peacekeeping forces.

Mr Burns said the G4 proposal to expand the Security Council from 15 to 25 members might "injure its effectiveness" and 19 or 20 would be more manageable.

The G4 countries have met the stiffest resistance from the so-called Coffee Club nations led by Pakistan, which opposes India's bid for permanent membership.

Other Coffee Club members include Italy, which is opposed to Germany, and Argentina and Mexico, which oppose Brazil.

South Korea and Eygpt, which respectively oppose South Africa's and Nigeria's permanent membership aspirations, are also Coffee Club stalwarts.

The last change to the Security Council was in 1971 when mainland China's communist government took over the country's permanent seat from the Taiwan-based Nationalist government.

In 1965, the Security Council's non-permanent membership was increased from six to 10 nations.

US Guantanamo Defenders Should Face The Hague!

US imperialists have defended the country's right to hold more than 500 suspected people in Guantanamo Bay indefinitely, as politicians examined whether the controversial detention centre should remain open and under what rules.

By David Nason posted 19 June 05

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Bush's demon-aid tactic strikes again
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Zarqawi tape 'magic': ABRACADABRA
An [alleged] audio recording in which Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, alleged Al Qaeda's leader [scapegoat and patsy in the resource wars who must have bled to death in Iraq by now], 'already', denies reports that he has been seriously wounded, and that's magic, says Mr Houdini, a magician.

Lying and bullshitting the same thing
Australia: The Un-Australian Newspaper: "AS well as all the bullshit in politics, there's even more in our metaphoric and colloquial language. Bullshit is the subject of serious philosophical inquiry in a little book called On Bullshit, published by the 'highly respected' Princeton University Press. To the surprise and delight of the author, it's stampeding out of bookshops all over the world."

Is this our most dangerous Newspaper?
The Daily Terrorist should be managed with manacles and flown into Siberia via a jumbo jet tomorrow amid fears government fascists may attempt to use them again on someone else.

IRAQ: Washington gives up on Iraqi security forces?
According to a United Press International report published the next day, General John Abizaid, who directs all US military forces in the Middle East, described the progress in developing Iraqi forces to fight the anti-occupation resistance as "disappointing".

UN Dialogue among Civilizations
This roundtable is a contribution to the UN Dialogue among Civilizations project that began in September 2000. At the first round table debate on Dialogue among Civilizations, Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the UN stated that, cultural diversity - in his opinion - is not only the basis for the Dialogue among Civilizations, but also the reality that makes dialogue necessary, since the perception of diversity as a threat is the very seed of war. [The role of religion in creating a culture of peace and moving on from a culture of fear.]

Zarqawi' figment of the US imagination, used time, and time again! US propaganda 'terror monster' the alleged Al Qaeda's leader in Iraq has been used by the US and its Coalition of the Killing as an excuse so many times he has bled to death, surely?

BUSH ON TRIAL
Tuesday May 17, 2005, Brussels - Today, representatives of the World Tribunal on Iraq (WTI) delivered a law summon and invitation letter addressed to President Bush at the US Embassy in Brussels.

Iraqi police vent anger at US after car bombings
Iraqi police hurled insults at US soldiers after two suicide car bomb blasts in Baghdad killed at least seven people and left 19 wounded, including policemen. "It's all because you're here," a policeman shouted in Arabic at a group of US soldiers after the latest in a bloody wave of attacks that have rocked Baghdad this month. "Get out of our country and there will be no more explosions," he told the uncomprehending Americans staring at the smouldering wreck of a car bomb.

UK report shows Iraq war illegal: former defence chief
Ruling Class Lord Goldsmith said a final UN resolution may be needed, that hard evidence of Iraqi non-compliance may have been required, and the UK could face sanction by international courts.

300,000 Iraqis protest occupation and genocide
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Chanting "Death to America" and burning effigies of President Bush and Saddam Hussein, tens of thousands of Iraqis flooded central Baghdad on Saturday in what police called the largest anti-American protest since the fall of Baghdad, the capital, exactly two years ago.

Annan calls for human rights agency revamp!
The commission has been harshly criticised recently by human rights groups claiming it has become less of a body for upholding human rights, and more of a haven for violators.

Attacks kill 21 two years after Iraq invasion
IRAQ: At least 21 people were killed on Sunday in attacks mainly targeting US/Iraqi security forces on the two-year anniversary of the US-led illegal and degrading war on of Iraq.

Wolfowitz's World Bank nomination worries Oxfam
The head of Oxfam in Australia has raised concerns about the nomination of US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz as the next head of the World Bank.

USA - FEELING THE HEAT FROM INTERNATIONAL FIRE:
It seems the United States of America (The World Watchdog) is dictating and practising double-standards --- a unique law for America and another set of laws for all other countries.

CALL TO ACTION of the ANTI-WAR ASSEMBLY
Two years after the invasion of Iraq, there is more opposition to the war in the US, in the coalition countries, and all over the world than ever before.

Returning veterans of Iraq/Afghanistan
In the last two years, nearly one million U.S. service-members have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Regardless of how you may feel about the war, most of us agree that those service-members deserve the best possible care and treatment our country can provide.

The Veil of Freedom
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two years after the invasion of Iraq and just weeks before the country's first free election, [occupation, US puppet gov't] "Amina" began wearing a headscarf for the first time in her life. Her father insisted upon it.

Iraqi women eye Islamic law
BAGHDAD - Covered in layers of flowing black fabric that extend to the tips of her gloved hands, Jenan al-Ubaedy knows her first priority as one of some 90 women who will sit in the national assembly: implementing Islamic law.

IRAQ: Shiite and Sunnis to unite against occupation?
Iraq: "I call on all religious and political powers that pushed towards the elections and took part in them to issue an official statement calling for a timetable for the withdrawal of the occupation forces from Iraq", Moqtada al Sadr, the popular young Iraqi Shiite cleric who last year led an armed rebellion against the US-led occupation, declared on February 4.

Democracy, Iraqi style
"In a darkened hall, candidates for Iraq's main Shia party sit listening to a turbaned cleric speaking into a microphone. They are being told how to campaign for the election without getting killed.

Violence continues ahead of Iraq Shoe Sale
Pre-Shoe Sale violence in Iraq is showing no signs of abating with the deaths today of two American militants following on from yesterday's killing of 22 US/Iraqi militants.

US transport company pulls out of Iraq
A large American transport company has become the first contractor to pull out of Iraq because of the continuing violence.

Rumsfeld's war, torture and occupation ideology!
War criminal Donald Rumsfeld faced critical questioning at a Washington media conference, after the announcement that it was a suicide bomber who caused the blast inside a US military base in Mosul yesterday, killing 22 people including 14 illegal militants.

Annan admits to a tough year
United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan admits he has had his worst year at the United Nations and he is looking forward to it being over.

Iraq sale to be contested by 100 buyers
A hundred buyers, blocs and independents will contest Iraq's first shoe sale, in decades, on January 30, the George Dubya Bushit - Iraqi Sales Commission (GDB/ISC) said.

Fallujah refugees in desperate need of aid: UN
More than 200,000 people who fled Fallujah ahead of the US attack have yet to return and many are in desperate need of aid, with temperatures in Iraq heading towards freezing, a new UN emergency report says.

UN panel proposes criteria for legitimate military action
With countries still bitterly divided over the war in Iraq, a high-level panel appointed by the United Nations has recommended a five-step guideline to determine when to use military action.

Indonesians rally against Fallujah assault
About 8,000 Indonesian Muslims have staged a peaceful rally against a major US-led assault on Iraq's rebel city of Fallujah, which has claimed 2,000 lives.

UK politicians launch Blair impeachment bid
Parliamentarians and celebrity campaigners have launched a bid to impeach UK Prime Minister Tony Blair for "gross misconduct" over his justification for the Iraq war.

'This One's Faking He's Dead' 'He's Dead Now'
Fallujah: Video shows US soldier killing wounded insurgent in cold blood
by Andrew Buncombe in Washington.

US: Very superstitious? Writing's on the wall!
The US military says it has discovered close to 20 torture sites in the course of its massive attack against the resistance in the Iraqi city of Fallujah?

World Vision Aust pulls out of Iraq
The organisation says the country has simply become too dangerous and its decision to leave was made before the apparent murder of Care Australia's Iraq director Margaret Hassan.

US Senator slams !!! 'dysfunctional, rogue' CIA
Influential US Republican Senator John McCain blasted the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as a "dysfunctional" and "rogue" organisation that needs to be reformed.

Civilian death toll to rise in Fallujah
The attack on the Iraqi city of Fallujah has taken its toll on Iraqi civilians no doubt including children and young babies. Iraqi's have witnessed civilian casualties. Yesterday during the assault on the main hospital nurses and patients were blindfolded after the US/Iraq militia stormed the main hospital and took control.

Illusionary demons blamed for US led Attack Iraq, Fallujah
In the name of an illusionary figure thought up by US militants suggests that Al Qaeda's? ally "Abu Musab al-Zarqawi" has called on Muslims to take up arms against their US enemy as American militia attacked the Iraqi city of Fallujah? Just a coincidence or just good timing?

Full-scale attack on Fallujah begins
Correspondents say radio traffic heard at a US militant's staging post just outside Fallujah indicates US/Iraqi militia have moved at least four blocks into Fallujah, and are still advancing.

US/Iraqi militants storm Fallujah hospital
United States troops and US/Iraqi militia have seized the main hospital in the Iraqi city of Fallujah without a fight, according to a pool reporter travelling [in-bed] with the troops. Those in hospital beds did not resist they were too sick and the doctor kept on operating regardless.

US warplanes and artillery attack Fallujah!
Journalists [in-bed] with the US military say warplanes fired at suspected resistance targets around Fallujah as night fell on Sunday, while artillery shells pounded a nearby town.

State of emergency: Allawi 'killer of saints'
The US puppet, Iyad Allawi otherwise known as "Sock" killer of saints has declared a state of emergency for 60 days to quell violent resistance gripping the country ahead of January's shoe sale.

US Empire Votes For Pre-Emptive War!!!
United States President George Dubya Bushit has been re-elected, winning four more years to press his war on liberty after a bitter campaign against Democrat John Kerry that focused on the US empire's role as - imperialists - initiating pre-emptive war - on the sovereign nation of Iraq - without the United Nations approval and in direct contravention of International law.

Saddam's family dismiss lawyer
The family of deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has dismissed the head of his defence team. Other team members had accused the lawyer, Mohammad Rashdan, of acting without consulting them.

Who's counting the dead in Fallujah? CARE?
In distress: CARE says it is deeply concerned about the wellbeing of Mrs Hassan. But who's counting the dead in Fallujah?

Iraqi civilian deaths put at 100,000
Tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed in violence since the US-led invasion last year, according to public health experts who estimate there were 100,000 "excess deaths" in 18 months.

Unknown News Update - 2009
More than 103 times as many people have been killed in these wars and occupations than in all terrorist attacks in the world from 1993-2004. About 241 times as many people have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq than in the ghastly attacks of September 11, 2001.

Bushite group threatens civil liberties in Iraq
Allegedly a group led by George W Bushite has forced freedom fighters to threaten to behead a Japanese hostage it said worked with Japanese forces in Iraq if Tokyo does not withdraw its forces from the country within 48 hours.

US secretly moved prisoners out of Iraq for questioning: report
The CIA has secretly transferred detainees out of Iraq for interrogation after asking the US Justice Department to write a memo justifying the practice, which violates the Geneva Conventions.

Weapons inspectors missed WMD in Iraq
An Iraqi minister has said United Nations nuclear inspectors are welcome to return in response to concerns of an "apparent systematic dismantlement" of Saddam Hussein's once-vigorous nuclear program.

US accused of breaching international law
The United States is violating international law by holding prisoners in its war on terror incommunicado and in secret hiding places, Human Rights Watch said in a report to be published on Tuesday calling for an end to such practices.

Allies 'planned' Iraq war despite denials
The United States, Australia and Britain started to plan the invasion of Iraq months before the conflict, according to a report Wednesday quoting a leaked Pentagon document.

UN warns of Iraqi malnutrition
One in four Iraqis are dependent on food rations to survive and many of them have to sell what little food they have for basic necessities like medicine and clothes, the UN World Food Program (WFP) said.

Jordan's king doubts Iraqi elections possible
Iraq is far too unsafe to hold elections as scheduled in January and extremists would do well in the poll if Baghdad tried to hold it, Jordan's King Abdullah said in an interview. Excluding troubled areas from the nationwide poll would only isolate Iraq's Sunnis and create deeper divisions in the country, he said.

Annan tells world leaders to respect law
United Nations (UN) secretary-general Kofi Annan has made an impassioned plea to bring about the rule of law across the globe today. Mr Annan told world leaders to respect international law at home and abroad.

CO-OFFENDERS DO NOT REBUFF UN ON 'ILLEGAL WAR'
The 'coalition of the killing's' complicities - the US, Britain and Australia - have insisted that their countries' military action in Iraq was legal after they have committed war crimes against humanity.

Iraq war illegal, says Annan
United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan says the United States decision to invade Iraq in March 2003 was "illegal". Australia was a key supporter of the war on Iraq and sent troops to join the United States-led invasion last year.

Bush team 'knew of abuse' at Guantanamo
Evidence of prisoner abuse and possible war crimes at Guantanamo Bay reached the highest levels of the Bush administration as early as autumn 2002, but Donald Rumsfeld, the defence secretary, chose to do nothing about it, according to a new investigation.

Journalists ordered to leave Najaf as fighting continues
Journalists have been kicked out of Najaf as clashes flared in the Iraqi city, prompting speculation that a major United States-led assault on enemy Shiite fighters was imminent.

Enemy Mortars attack opening of Iraqi summit
US Enemies have fired mortars at a meeting where Iraqi puppet government leaders met to pick an interim national assembly, killing at least two people.

Iraqi Women in the Occupation Prisons As Material and Means of Violations It is important to say at the beginning that there are many psychological, social and cultural obstacles for Iraqi women to talk openly about what they actually went through inside the occupation prisons.

Ancient Babylon ruined by foreign troops: Iraqi minister
Iraq: Foreign forces in Iraq have caused severe damage to the site of ancient Babylon, one of the world's most renowned archaeological treasures, and need to leave the area as soon as possible, Iraq's Culture Minister Mofeed al-Jazaeri said.

Whatcha Gonna Do, When They Come For You? Bad boy!
Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was a threat and sought to possess weapons of mass destruction, United States President George W Bush reaffirmed when asked why no such weapons had been discovered in Iraq.

Saddam trial US propaganda
Saddam Hussein's trial will play an important part in the US election no doubt and for that to work at its potential just put a "women" behind it "She called the trials". Then add some "cleansing" like she's just doing the dishes and then some "reconciliation" by slaying Hussein during a US election. Now you can go and tell everyone you're reversing the trauma but really you're killing two birds with one Saddam.

Kyoto Protocol start date set

The Kyoto Protocol to combat global warming will take effect from February 16 after Russia formally handed over its notice of ratification overnight.

The agreement aiming to curb carbon gas pollution was agreed to in 1997.

However the United States rejected Kyoto in 2001, saying the cost for meeting its targets would be too high for the US economy, which is massively dependent on the fossil fuels that are at the source of the problem.

Russia's ratification then became necessary for Kyoto to survive, as it had to be supported by countries accounting for at least 55 per cent of developed nations' greenhouse gas emissions.

Only four industrialised states are yet to ratify the protocol, Australia, the United States, Monaco and Liechtenstein.

Time to wake up Australia.

By Climate Change 19 November 04

Russian cold war: 'We're back'

Putin promises new wave nuclear missile system

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is confident Russia will put into service in the next few years a new nuclear missile system unlike those held by any other country.

Mr Putin was addressing army chiefs in Moscow.

For an army still struggling to come to terms with defeat in the Cold War and then with NATO's enlargement eastwards, Mr Putin's announcement came as something of a patriotic boost.

Mr Putin promised military chiefs they would soon be getting some of the most advanced weapons in the world.

Russia, he said, had been testing state-of-the-art nuclear missile systems, that no other country had, or would have, any time soon.

They were necessary, he said, for maintaining Russia's guard in the war on international terrorism.

Moscow has indicated before that it has been trying to develop modern rocket systems.

BIG PICTURE SMALL WORLD

By Son Of A Bitch 18 November 04

Related:

NATO approves terrorist training for US/Iraqi militants
NATO has approved an operational plan to train some 1,000 US/Iraqi militants a year in a proposed terrorist camp outside Baghdad.

US plans ambitious wireless military network
The Pentagon has reportedly laid the first connections for a secure, wireless information network that proponents say will fundamentally transform warfare.

US Senator slams !!! 'dysfunctional, rogue' CIA
Influential US Republican Senator John McCain blasted the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as a "dysfunctional" and "rogue" organisation that needs to be reformed.

Russia warns on 'son of a bitch'
Russia says a United States deal with Denmark to upgrade a radar in north-western Greenland has raised fresh security concerns over Washington's planned missile defence shield, known as 'son of a bitch'.

Howard defends 'Son of a bitch'
The Prime Minister says the government would be "recklessly negligent" if it did not consider joining the United States' missile defence program, known as "Son of a bitch".

Lost In Space "WARS"
Defence Minister Senator Robert Hill says Australia may buy a sophisticated missile system that can destroy other ballistic missiles in space.

We are the world, we are the people...
Australia commits to 'son of a bitch'? Say no to that 'son of a bitch' this Federal Election. Put your left foot forward, 'Without Fear' and Vote 1 the Greens!

Auditor Generals damning defence report
The Defence Department computer system upgrade has cost Australia tens of millions of dollars in a gigantic bungle, according to the Federal Opposition. The Commonwealth auditor-general has issued a damning report into the project.

US liars warn against 'fortress Australia'
The US and Australia could lose the war on terror if they adopted a fortress mentality and failed to go after the terrorists in their global strongholds, US ambassador to Australia Tom Schieffer warned yesterday.

Nikola Tesla: World's Greatest Inventor pt.4/5
Nikola Tesla created astonishing, world-transforming devices that often were without historical precedent. The alternating current electrical system and radio are two of his 700 patents worldwide.

Beslan ends mourning after revenge!

People who have children shouldn't throw bombs.

The North Ossetian town of Beslan has marked the traditional end of mourning for the hundreds of parents, teachers and students who were killed in last month's hostage siege.

It is 40 days since the violent end to the siege at Beslan's School Number One and in the Orthodox Christian tradition that brings the official mourning period to an end for many.

All over the town family and friends have gathered in courtyards and on streets for feasts and speeches to honour the dead.

But the end of mourning opens the way to another more sinister regional practice, that of blood feuds and among the mourners are those who want to take revenge.

Their first target is expected to be the neighbouring Muslim republic of Ingueshetia, the homeland of at least eight freedom fighters who seized the school. Local politicians and analysts have warned any ethnic clashes could erupt into widespread conflict.

By Revenge In Moscow 13 October 04

Madonna dedicates song to Russian hostage crisis: IMAGINE!
Pop star Madonna drew massive applause from a sold-out crowd in Paris when she dedicated her version of John Lennon's peace ode Imagine to the Russian hostage crisis.

Hostages' Ruddock's political capital
The Opposition says Mr Ruddock should not be using an international crisis in the domestic political debate.

No children hurt in Russian siege, negotiator says
The chief negotiator in the Russian hostage crisis says all the children held captive are still alive.

Darfur death rates 'six times higher' than normal!!!!!!

Injuries and illness are taking their toll on displaced Darfur residents.

As many as 10,000 displaced people could be dying each month in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region - six times higher than normal mortality rates - a World Health Organisation study shows.

"What we are getting from this study is that the number of deaths is between 6,000 and 10,000 per month," David Nabarro, the WHO's official in charge of health actions in crisis situations, said.

He says under normal conditions, total mortality for the population concerned would be expected to stand at around 1,500 per month. A very high proportion of the dead are children," he said.

Mr Nabarro says the main causes of death are diarrhoea due to water pollution, fever, pneumonia and various injuries. He calls the death rate "unacceptably high", saying the figures are higher than during the wars in East Timor, the Balkans or Iraq in 1991. He says the main priority is to improve hygiene conditions, access to clean water and the management of camps in the western Sudanese region. However, he warns that the current relief operation may not be enough to match the scale of the crisis.

The WHO study has been carried out, with help from the Sudanese Government, in Darfur's three provinces. There are 1.2 million people are living in precarious conditions in camps for the displaced in the region. Mr Nabarro says the daily mortality rate among the displaced stands at 1.5 per 10,000 in North Darfur, where some 380,000 people are displaced. It rises to 2.5 among children under five - three times higher than the average African death rate.

According to United Nations estimates, up to 50,000 people have died in Darfur since two rebel groups rose up against the Government in February 2003. The uprising sparked a crackdown by the Government and a proxy Arab militia.

By In Solidarity 14 September 04

Related:

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Washington tightens the screws on Sudan
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UN warns of worsening conditions in Darfur
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Sudan talks end in deadlock
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Top UN official concerned about 'lack of progress' in Darfur
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Kenya faces hunger crisis
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Sudan launches fresh helicopter attacks in Darfur: UN
Sudan has carried out fresh helicopter attacks in Darfur, worsening an already desperate humanitarian situation, while Arab militia targeted refugees trying to escape the conflict, the United Nations said.

African Union may send 2,000 troops to Darfur
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Sudan rejects UN resolution deadline
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African Union considers Sudan peacekeeping mission
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Annan urges more aid for Sudan
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Sudan vows to resist Darfur intervention
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Annan, African leaders to hold Sudan talks
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Sudan warns against foreign intervention
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Sudanese refugees flood into Chad
Aid agencies in Chad are bracing for the arrival of more refugees from Sudan's devastated Darfur region. The United Nations estimates that up to 200,000 refugees have already crossed into Chad from Sudan and fears that as many again are on their way.

US threatens Sudan with UN sanctions
The United States has circulated a United Nations resolution threatening sanctions against the Sudan government if Khartoum did not prosecute Arab militia leaders in the western Darfur region.

UN sanctions for Sudan 'unlikely'
United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan says Sudan has made little progress in curbing marauding militias in the Darfur region but diplomats said sanctions against Khartoum were unlikely.

Sudan rejects human rights report on Darfur
The Sudanese government has slammed a report by Human Rights Watch over the strife-torn western region of Darfur and accused the organisation of attempting to provoke the UN Security Council into imposing sanctions against the country.

African Union tries to revive failed Darfur talks
The African Union (AU) says it has made fresh contact with the government of Sudan and Darfur rebels in an effort to revive peace talks that broke down over the weekend.

Health catastrophe looms in Sudan: UN
A malnourished Sudanese refugee child lies at a feeding centre in Iriba Town in Chad. The World Health Organisation has warned a major health catastrophe could erupt in western Sudan's Darfur region if the needed funds, personnel and supplies were not made available.

Sudan decrees end to relief restrictions
The Sudanese Government, under international pressure to help displaced people in the western region of Darfur, has ordered an end to restrictions on the movement of relief organisations and imports of relief supplies.

Sudan urged to take urgent action to protect refugees
The UN is urging the Sudanese Government to take urgent action to protect more than 1 million refugees.

Terrorism obscuring world crises, Sir William says
The former governor-general, Sir William Deane, has advised Australians not to lose perspective about international crises during the ongoing focus on terrorism.

Madonna dedicates song to Russian hostage crisis: IMAGINE!

Imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky. Imagine all the people, living for today...

Pop star Madonna drew massive applause from a sold-out crowd in Paris when she dedicated her version of John Lennon's peace ode Imagine to the Russian hostage crisis.

Imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too. Imagine all the people, living life in peace...

Addressing the audience midway through her show last night, Madonna spoke briefly about the tragedy at a Russian school that left at least 350 dead, including pupils, teachers and mothers.

Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can. No need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man. Imagine all the people, sharing all the world...

As video images of war and children were broadcast behind her on giant screens, the pop diva urged her fans at Paris' Bercy stadium to think about what happened in Russia and to think about Lennon's lyrics.

You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us and the world will live as one.

By Madonna and Peace 9 September 04

Related:

Hostages' Ruddock's political capital
The Opposition says Mr Ruddock should not be using an international crisis in the domestic political debate.

No children hurt in Russian siege, negotiator says
The chief negotiator in the Russian hostage crisis says all the children held captive are still alive.

Hostages' Ruddock's political capital

Scum of the earth, war criminal, Philip Ruddock exploits Russian hostages

The Opposition accused Philip Ruddock of using the terrorist crisis in Russia for tasteless political point-scoring.

War criminal, prime minister "Scumbo Howard" attempted to defend his Attorney General Phillip Ruddock exploiting Russian hostages.

But no decent person would attempt to defend Phillip Ruddock exploiting the Russian hostages unless that person had been complicit in the act of doing it. But why Scumbo?

For the purpose, in this case, of winning an election! Is that what human life is worth to these rats?

Ruddock says the hostage drama shows why Australia's intelligence agencies should be focusing on the fight against terrorism, [the Coalition of the Killing's resource war's in the Middle East], rather than being distracted by a royal commission, as Labor has proposed.

But to live in fear for the sake of political posturing is very sad indeed!

The Opposition says Ruddock should not be using an international crisis in the domestic political debate.

Labor's Mark Latham thinks the comments are totally inappropriate. "I don't believe that it's in proper taste to be making direct reflections on Australian domestic policy or the election campaign," he said.

The Democrats' Natasha Stott-Despoja says Mr Ruddock's comments are insensitive. "We still have babies and children in danger and he's making political capital out of it," she said.

No butt's about it "Scumbo Howard" is at it again!

By Howard Out 3 September 04

Related:

No children hurt in Russian siege, negotiator says
The chief negotiator in the Russian hostage crisis says all the children held captive are still alive.

Cheesed-off voter tells PM he's past his best
[War criminal], Prime Minister John Howard "Scumbo" has been visiting the marginal seat of Richmond on the New South Wales far north coast. It is held by the National Party's Larry Anthony by a margin of just 1.7 per cent.

No children hurt in Russian siege, negotiator says

The chief negotiator in the Russian hostage crisis says all the children held captive are still alive.

However, he cannot confirm whether or not some of the adults have been killed.

Dr Leonic Roshal has been in regular contact with the terrorists.

He says every request has met with one word: "No".

There is still no food being allowed in and water has been refused again because demands to speak to a local leader have not been fulfilled.

Dr Roshal confirmed the youngest hostage is just 20 months' old and there are another 16 children five or younger.

He said the hostage takers have not identified themselves, however a separate source says the government is holding at least two wives of suspects.

Desperate parents have called on President Putin to fly here and take charge immediately.

Meanwhile there is still sporadic gunfire around the scene.

By In Solidarity 3 September 04

Sudan urged to allow international peacekeepers in Darfur

The United Nations is urging Sudan to allow international peacekeepers to restore order in the troubled Darfur region.

The Sudanese Government is under pressure to deal with the humanitarian and security crisis in the western Darfur region.

United Nations special envoy Jan Pronk has delivered a report to the UN Security Council.

Mr Pronk says the Sudanese Government has a responsibility to protect its civilians from human rights violations.

The UN Security Council is debating whether to take action against Sudan after the expiry of a 30-day deadline to restore security.

Up to 50,000 people have been killed during attacks by militias, more than 1 million others have been displaced.

Meanwhile, Darfur's tough-talking rebel groups have refused to discuss disarming their forces and demanded an international inquiry into alleged atrocities by government forces.

The insurgents' hardline stance, which came on the first day of talks with the African Union, threatened to deadlock the dialogue and undermine the progress made so far on humanitarian issues.

"We are not going to accept the cantonment of our forces, even if it means the collapse of the talks," said Abdelhafiz Mustapha Musa, a delegate from the Sudan Liberation Movement.

"We will be giving the government the opportunity to bombard our soldiers if we agree to their encampment proposal," he said.

By In Solidarity 3 September 04

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Washington tightens the screws on Sudan

Sudan's rebel forces are on the offensive and are reported to have seized large areas in the eastern part of the country. Their success may be due in part to covert backing from the United States government, which has its own reasons for interfering.

After failing to get tough UN Security Council sanctions against the Islamic government in Khartoum, the US government has adopted the backdoor strategy of sending military aid to its adversaries.

Although a small slice of the budget cake, Washington's plan to send $20 million in military equipment to Uganda, Ethiopia and Eritrea - three neighbours who support Sudanese rebel forces - may tip the civil war balance against the Khartoum government.

Last October, a milestone unity conference of the National Democratic Alliance, Sudan's rebel coalition, announced the formation of a joint military command of its seven diverse components. Simultaneously, it was launching offensives around the country. When Ethiopia revealed evidence of Sudan's complicity in the botched assassination attempt on Mubarak in its capital, Addis Ababa, in 1995, regional relations plummeted. Sudan ignored calls from the Organisation of African Unity and the United Nations to extradite the suspects.

In April 1996 the US sought and obtained UN Security Council sanctions covering diplomatic and travel matters. What it did not get was an arms embargo. Egypt objected to an arms embargo, fearing the benefit it would bring to the southern rebels, who might jeopardise Egypt's use of the Nile. Russia and China, which have signed oil exploration agreements with Sudan, also objected to tougher sanctions.

Military aid

Now the US is hitting back below the UN belt. It has openly pledged military aid to three of Sudan's neighbours, cementing an anti-Khartoum coalition. According to US government officials, the $20 million in surplus military equipment earmarked for Ethiopia, Eritrea and Uganda is "non-lethal" and includes items such as radios, uniforms, boots and tents. But Pentagon officials have not ruled out extending this to include rifles and other weapons.

Although US officials have denied that the equipment is for Sudanese opposition groups, saying it is for the "defence" of the recipient countries, it is uncertain that the equipment - reported in the Washington Post to be basic items suitable for outfitting a guerilla force - will be kept from Sudan's rebel forces.

In 1995 Eritrean President Issayas Aferwerki stated in an interview with the Economist that his government would give arms to anyone committed to overthrowing the Khartoum government. Ethiopia and Eritrea do not need US rifles, nor are they incapable of defence. In the 17 years prior to 1991, the former Soviet-backed Ethiopian regime - then Africa's largest standing army - received an estimated $2 billion in Soviet arms. Ethiopian and Eritrean rebel forces captured and redeployed these arms to oust the government.

Relations turn sour

Five years ago, Sudan supported Ethiopia's rebels and Eritrea's secessionists. In turn, the former Ethiopian regime supported Sudan's rebels. When Ethiopian rebels toppled their government and Eritrea seceded, their respective new governments attempted a policy of non-interference toward Sudan.

But since the 1993 Eritrean independence referendum, relations between the secular but Christian-dominated Provisional Government of Eritrea and Khartoum's militant Islamic regime have grown sour over Sudan's push for Arabisation and Islamisation. Eritrea, like Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, charges Sudan with creating regional instability by funding Islamic militants. Although Sudan's National Islamic Front leader, Hassan al-Turabi, and military leader Lieutenant General Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir praised Eritrea's newly won independence in April 1993, their push to attract lowland Muslim Eritreans ended with Eritrea's 1995 expulsion of the Sudanese embassy and Sudan Airways. Then in June 1995, Eritrea hosted a milestone conference to unite Sudan's rebel forces, giving them the former Sudanese embassy in Asmara to coordinate their efforts.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Sudan's rebel coalition, was formed, consisting of the Beja Congress, the Sudan Alliance Forces, the Umma Party, the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army/Movement, the Democratic Unionist Party, the Legitimate Command of the Sudanese Army and the Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance. All have agreed on the future process of development, democratisation and the restructuring of Sudan on the basis of social equality and justice.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia is also playing its part. The Sudanese embassy, once the largest in the region and the most feared among political exiles, was downgraded to a skeleton staff, and around Christmas 1995 there were reports of SPLA units returning to their former Gambela base in Ethiopia.

In March 1966, Sudan claimed that the Ethiopian army had launched a series of offensives along the border of its upper Blue Nile states using tanks and heavy weaponry to capture territory it then handed over to the SPLA. In June the Khartoum government-controlled newspaper Akhbar Al-Youm denounced the World Bank for its support of Ethiopian plans to build dams on the Atbara and Blue Nile rivers, the latter delivering 70% of the Nile's water. Uganda has similar plans for the White Nile.

In response to mounting opposition and its growing isolation, the Sudanese government attempted to legitimise itself through snap elections in March. Of the 20% who went to the polls, 75% voted for National Islamic Front zealots. A large part of Sudan's new foreign relations offensive focuses on Egypt. Following a meeting of the two presidents on the sidelines of the Arab Summit, held in Cairo on June 21, Sudan showed its willingness to trade Islamic militants for better relations. Pressure from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch also prompted Sudan to release former prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi, and officials have pledged they will release a further 200 prisoners on the 148 released in September.

On November 4 Sudan signed a draft peace agreement with Uganda, but a week later the US compromised any such deal by pledging military aid to Uganda. Khartoum in recent months has stepped up a campaign of aerial bombardment, employing cluster bombs to devastating effect.

Although ethnicity and religion play a key role in Sudan's civil war, it was generated by the will of a resource-starved northern elite to exploit the newly accessible oil, water and land resources of the south. Islamic law has been the tool of repression, and ethnic groups have been divided in order to be ruled or pitted ruthlessly against each another. Jihad (holy war) has been called to rally the poorer folk, who are often forcibly swept up into peasant militias.

Refugees

Since 1970 the population has nearly doubled to 27 million, of which up to 6 million are internally displaced, and at least 1 million have become refugees. The subsistence economy has been largely destroyed by the compound effect of drought, desertification, deforestation and war in the south, west and east.The resultant city-bound migration is unwelcome. In 1995, the government bulldozed thousands of homes in the shanty towns on Khartoum's fringes. Some 300,000 Ethiopian and 400,000 Eritrean refugees, many having lived, intermarried and had children since waves of migration brought them to Sudan during the famine and war-torn years of the early '80s, have been caught up in the conflict. Refugees suffer the injustices of trumped-up racial hatred and petty economic jealousies. Imprisonment, deportation and confiscation of property have become common.

Although Eritrea has been notably compassionate in its treatment of Sudanese refugees, Ethiopia has not learned to distinguish between pro- and anti-Khartoum Sudanese people in Ethiopia. The few who have been granted political asylum are neglected by the United Nations, and many dissidents in Addis Ababa have been "repatriated" to the Khartoum government.

By James D. Thompson Green Left Weekly posted 2 September 04

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UN warns of worsening conditions in Darfur

The United Nations' World Food Program (WFP) says conditions are worsening in Sudan's western Darfur region.

The WFP says disease and hunger are threatening lives. It is trying to deliver food to some of the more than 1 million people who have been displaced by fighting but officials say disease and heavy rains are adding to the difficulties. The number of hepatitis cases has doubled in the past month.

United Nations special representative Jan Pronk is expected to report to the UN Security Council tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Sudan has accused rebels of kidnapping more than 20 aid workers in the troubled region. United Nations officials are investigating the incident.

The Sudanese Government says 22 health workers were abducted near the town of Nyala in southern Darfur. The staff were part of a vaccination program. The Government says they were kidnapped by rebels, but there has been no official confirmation.

In a separate incident eight Sudanese workers from the World Food Program and the Red Crescent organisation went missing on Sunday.

Rebels have denied that the staff members were abducted.

Rebel leaders and government officials are taking part in peace talks in the Nigerian capital Abuja. Both sides have accused each other of breaking a ceasefire agreement.

By In Solidarity 1 September 04

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Russia warns on US son of starwars: 'son of a bitch'

Star-Wars-Talk-ing-bout-Star-Wars. The-big-hair-y-guy-and-the-guy-with-the-gun.

Russia says a United States deal with Denmark to upgrade a radar in north-western Greenland has raised fresh security concerns over Washington's planned missile defence shield, known as son of starwars, ['son of a bitch'.]

They've-got-a-sword that looks like-a-flash-light. The-chick-with-the-ear-muffs-and-the-old-decrepit-man-and-the-gold-en-dro-o-oid-ta-a a-alks-too-much and the-blue-one-loo-ooks-like-a-trash-can.

The deal signed on Friday allows Washington to upgrade the Thule radar to use it in a chain of similar US installations stretching from Alaska to Australia designed to avert potential missile attacks against North America.

In 2001, Moscow bowed to a US decision to abandon the bilateral 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and develop a missile defence, [war], system after Washington said it wanted to defend itself against strikes from states like Iran or North Korea.

"The United States has more than once assured us that the future missile defence, [war], system will not be targeted against Russia," the Russian Foreign ministry said in a statement.

"However, the very geography of the radar in Greenland gives us reasons to think that even at this stage the US missile defence, [war], could potentially threaten Russia's national security."

Star-Wars-Talking-bout-Star-Wars. There's-Darth-Vader-and-that-admiral-guy-they've-got-a-big-narly-space-station-lots-of stormtroopers-and-really-cool-ships.

Reports earlier this year that Washington planned to deploy elements of its missile shield on the territories of new NATO members in Eastern and Central Europe alarmed Moscow.

"Russia will carefully analyse the situation from the point of view of its own security and reserves the right to take all appropriate measures to maintain it on an appropriate level," the ministry statement said without giving any details.

The Russian military has said it does not believe the US missile shield will be effective and said it will not be a major security problem for Moscow in the next 25-30 years.

And-Lu-u-u-uke-blew-ew-ew-it-up a-and-Han-saved-his-ba-acon a-and-they-all-got-medals-in-a-nice-ceremony-a-and-Leia-kissed-her-bro-other-on-the-lips.

China claim

Meanwhile, an international think, [stink], tank says China's opposition to the US anti-missile shield is based almost entirely on political rather than military issues.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) has issued a commentary on the impact of missile defence, [war], in Asia. The Institute says China's strategic nuclear forces are not vulnerable to US military action. Instead, the commentary says China's shrill hostility to the anti-missile program is almost entirely political, based on worries about America's global power.

The IISS says Beijing fears that America could give ballistic missile defences to allies in Asia to contain China.

Star-Wars-Talking-bout-Star-Wars. This-song-is-not-liscensed-by-lucas-film-ltd. And-if-they-ever-found-out-I-can-be-put-in a cell with bubba.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK!

By Gregory Kable & Luke Skywalker 10 August 04

LEIA: SON OF A BITCH! USING THE NAME "SON OF STARWARS" ONLY GIVES IT THE PR"HYPE" NECESSARY TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO ACCEPT IT AS SOME NATURAL CAUSE THAT IS GOOD.

A LITTLE LIKE WHEN YOU USE A SPORTING HERO TO PROMOTE TELEVISION. WHY NOT! YOU ALREADY LIKE THEM. NOW THE HERO HAS THE TRUST OF THE POPULATION SO PROMOTION COMES EASY, THEY THINK?

BUT DON'T TRUST THEM TRUST US BECAUSE AUSTRALIA IS USING THE SAME PR HYPE TO CONVINCE AUSTRALIA WHERE IN A WAR ZONE AND WE NEED HOWARD THE COWARD TO SAVE US USING THE ALL POWERFUL SON OF BITCH GEORGE DUBYA BUSH WHO PROMOTES WAR. A LITTLE LIKE DARTH-VADER IN THE MOVIE AND HE INTENDS TO SET UP U.S. BASES HERE IN AUSTRALIA.

WHAT DO WE WANT? NO US BASES IN AUSTRALIA. HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THIS GOAL?

PUT YOUR LEFT FOOT FORWARD THIS FEDERAL ELECTION "WITHOUT FEAR" AND WITHOUT THE "SON OF A BITCH" AND VOTE 1 THE GREENS!

WHY? BECAUSE WE HAVE GOOD MANNERS SO WE DON'T NEED THE SON OF A BITCH BECAUSE WE DON'T THROW MISSILES OR TREAT PEOPLE INDIFFERENTLY.

FEMA: Deep Underground Military Bases (DUMBs)

Written and authorised by the community.

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