Its all spelled out in unpublicized agreement
December 11, 2008 It’s All Spelled Out in Unpublicized Agreement Total Defeat for U.S. in Iraq By PATRICK COCKBURN [Patrick… Read More »Its all spelled out in unpublicized agreement
Thousands desert somalia forces
3. ‘Thousands’ desert Somalia forces
BBC Friday, 12 December 2008
More than 80% of Somalia’s soldiers and police – about 15,000 members – have deserted, some taking weapons, uniforms and vehicles, the UN says.
The head of the UN monitoring group on Somalia, Dumisani Kumalo, said Islamist insurgents got many of their weapons and ammunition from the deserters.
The head of the Somali police rejected the UN’s report.
No ceasefire without lifting the siege
Haniya, no ceasefire without lifting the siege 14 December, 2008 From Khalid Amayreh in occupied East Jerusalem
In a triumphant speech marking Hamas’s 21st anniversary, Ismael Haniya, the Prime Minister of the Gaza-based Palestinian government, said the Islamic movement and other Palestinian resistance groups wouldn’t extend the present fragile truce with Israel unless the Israeli occupation army lifted its harsh blockade of the Gaza Strip and allowed Gazans free movement from and to the coastal territory.
The six-month-old truce, or “the calm,” is slated to expire on Friday, amid fears that violence and bloodshed on a larger scale would brake out in the absence of a new agreement or understanding to renew the ceasefire. He pointed out that last month alone, the Israeli occupation army killed more than 20 Palestinians in addition to tightening the blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Afghanistan the arrogance and ignorance
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 2:54 AM
Subject: Afghanistan: The Arrogance and Ignorance!!
The Arrogance and Ignorance
By Yvonne Ridley
[www.informationclearinghouse.info]
December 10, 2008 "Information Clearinghouse" — THE Taliban now holds a permanent presence of 72 per cent of Afghanistan according to the latest report by an influential think tank.
But within hours of the International Council on Security and Development (ICOS) releasing this news various politicians and ambassadors from Afghanistan, America and Britain criticised its contents.
The reality is none of these people really know what is happening on the ground in Afghanistan because it is not safe to travel and if any of them do venture out it is rarely beyond the confines of Kabul.
The reason I know the ICOS report carries weight is because I have just returned from Afghanistan myself and, unlike most politicians, diplomats and journalists who go to the country, I went in unescorted.