Peace Like A River » Cables, dispatches and memoranda

Cables, dispatches and memoranda

October 28, 2009 (1:19 am) | Daily Roundup | By: Jeff Kouba

Cables, Dispatches and Memoranda A brief world news roundup for 28 October 2009.

United States & the Americas

FBI – Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Joseph M. Demarest, Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the FBI, announced the filing of an indictment yesterday charging Patrick Nayyar and Conrad Stanisclaus Mulholland with attempting to provide material support to Hizballah, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Chicago Tribune – Terrorism-related charges were filed against two Chicago men today, accusing them of plotting against targets in Western Europe, including “facilities and employees” of a Danish newspaper that printed cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that sparked riots in the Muslim world.
State Dept – The Re-Designation of Al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb as a Foreign Terrorist Organization
National Post – Ottawa has decided not to proceed with its investment in the $16.2-billion Mackenzie Valley Pipeline, sources said, throwing the future of Canada’s largest construction proposal into doubt
ABC – Ecuador’s president is in London this week to promote a unique proposal: pay his country $3 billion not to drill for oil in a pristine Amazon reserve
Miami Herald – Chile’s president has sent to Congress a bill that would strip military courts of their ability to try civilians
Columbia Reports – Authorities in Venezuela arrested alleged Colombian intelligence officials who were caught “in espionage,” on Tuesday, said Deputy Foreign Minister for Latin America, Francisco Arias Cardenas.
LAHT – The Venezuelan government on Monday denied permission for a Colombian administration plane to travel to Venezuela to collect the bodies of Colombians slain on the other side of the countries’ shared border, an official source in Bogota told Efe
MercoPress – The president of the Brazilian Senate Jose Sarney reiterated Tuesday he does not support the incorporation of Venezuela to the South American trade block Mercosur, since “decisions from the government of that country represent a crumbling and deviation of democracy”.
Air Force – Airmen aboard two Arizona Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotankers are flying daily refueling sorties above Chile to support a multinational force of fighters during Exercise Salitre II

Russia, Caucasus & Central Asia

Kremlin – Medvedev, Opening Remarks at Meeting on Defence Industry Development
Russia Today – Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko has announced that Russia and Turkey have agreed to build an oil refinery as part of the Samsun-Ceyhan Pipeline project.
OGJ – Russia’s state-owned pipeline monopoly OAO Transneft has completed construction of a spur from the Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline to the border with China, according Transneft Pres. Nikolai Tokarev
Civil Georgia – Christian-Democratic Movement, a leading party in the parliamentary minority, said on October 27, that a group consisting of representatives from foreign diplomatic missions, media and analysts would likely pay a fact-finding visit to Pankisi gorge this week. MP Nika Laliashvili of CDM said such visit was required in order to disavow recent groundless allegations by Russia that Georgia was assisting militants to infiltrate into Russia’s North Caucasus republics
RIA Novosti – A police officer was shot down early on Tuesday in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Dagestan
Caucasian Knot – President of Ingushetia Yunus-Bek Evkurov has stated that the murder of the well-known local oppositionist and public figure Maksharip Aushev was directed against the republic’s leadership, and personally against him
Prague Watchdog – Maksharip Aushev, the Ingush opposition leader who was killed near the Kabardino-Balkarian capital Nalchik on October 25, 2009, survived his colleague, Magomed Yevloyev – assassinated in August 2008 – by one year and two months
Turkmenistan.ru – On October 27, Turkmenistan marks the main national holiday – Independence Day. By tradition, the day began with a flower-laying ceremony at the Monument of Independence, which was attended by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. A military parade and festive parade of workers started at 10 a.m. on the central square of Ashgabat.

Middle East

MNF Iraq – Iraqi forces, with U.S. advisors, conducted a series of operations, Oct. 26, resulting in the arrest of 11 suspects in vehicle-bomb networks operating between Baghdad and Mosul
Al Sumaria – At least four people were killed and three others were wounded in recent hours in a bomb explosion targeting a civilian bus at the entrance of Karbala City, security sources said. Iraqi security forces stopped the bus at the city’s main checkpoint after the bomb detection device beeped in signal to suspected material, the source said. The bomb detonated while searching the bus, he added.
Hurriyet – Five Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, members were killed when they clashed with military forces in the eastern province of Bingöl.
Al Arabiya – Bahrain’s parliament on Tuesday approved legislation penalizing contacts with Israel, a move which could complicate Gulf Arab leaders’ efforts to promote peace talks with Israel.
NOW Lebanon – NOW’s correspondent in South Lebanon reported that Israeli warplanes are flying over Bint Jbeil, Marjayoun and Hasbaya and that Israeli helicopters are flying over the Shebaa Farms.
Press TV – Houthi fighters say they have inflicted a heavy defeat on the Yemeni army, forcing the military to retreat from its last base in the city of Sa’ada
News Yemen – Citizens in Razih have expressed their restlessness for the withdrawal of the army from military outposts in the district leaving behind military equipment for Houthi rebels.
Saba – The Cabinet’s spokesperson and Minister of Information Hassan al Lawzi confirmed on Tuesday arrest of five Iranians who were on an Iranian ship laden with weapons off Midi coastline of Hajjah province

Iran

Iran MFA – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday that the two friendly countries of Iran and Turkey share common interests and threats.
Fars – Visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended his country’s support for Iran’s participation in the Nabucco gas pipeline project.
Press TV – Turkey is to invest around $3.5 to $4 billion in Iran’s South Pars gas field, an Iranian Oil Ministry official has said
Mehr – The chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee has said that Iran should buy 20 percent enriched uranium for the Tehran research reactor without sending its own enriched uranium abroad.
Press TV – The Iranian president says nations cannot be deprived of their right to peaceful nuclear energy while Israel possesses nuclear weapons
MEMRI – In his first interview with the Arab press since his election, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told journalist Fahmi Huwaidi that Israel can be defeated only through cooperation between Egypt and Iran
UPI – Iran announced the launch of an international oil exchange on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf to trade crude and petrochemical products.
RFERL – Student protests against the regime of Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad continue. A protest was held today by students at the Islamic Azad University in southern Tehran. Reports say more than 1,000 students participated

South Asia

AFPS – Eight U.S. troops and an Afghan civilian working with NATO forces were killed in multiple “complex” bomb attacks in southern Afghanistan, military officials reported
Pentagon – The Department of Defense announced today the death of four Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The following Marines died Oct. 26 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan
Xinhua – Taliban militants laid ambush on police patrol in Zabul province south of Afghanistan, leaving five policemen dead, a senior police officer General Abdul Razeq said Tuesday.
Asia Foundation – 2009 has been a formative year for the people of Afghanistan. In the 12 months since The Asia Foundation conducted its last survey of Afghan public opinion in 2008, the domestic and international landscape has shifted considerably, heralding renewed emphasis on this nation determined to find its path forward in the post-Taliban era.
TIME – Ze Frank: The History of Afghanistan in 3 Minutes (video)
Dawn – At least 22 militants were killed in clashes with security forces in the Mohmand and South Waziristan tribal areas on Tuesday.
Geo – The mastermind of attack at the military General Headquarters (GHQ) Qari Ishtiaq has been arrested, Geo News reported Tuesday. According to sources privy to intelligence agencies, a huge catch of modern arms and ammunition has been taken in custody from his possession. Qari Ishtiaq is being said as the central commander of Punjabi Taliban. The sources said more seven terrorists have been arrested on identification by Qari Ishtiaq during interrogation
Al Jazeera – A vehicle carrying a brigadier and his mother has been fired at in Islamabad, just days after another military officer of the same rank was killed in a similar assault in Pakistan’s capital. “The attackers fled. There were no casualties,” police said on Tuesday.
Daily Times – A much-awaited meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif concluded without any breakthrough on Monday. The meeting was held on an invitation by Zardari.
Col. Rahul K. Bhonsle – India: Balancing United States and China
Times of India – The Maoists packed explosives inside Upgraded Haridih School and Upgraded Dharpahari School, damaging the structures, police said. Maoists usually trigger blasts in schools which the security forces have used as shelters during their anti-Naxal operations.
Daily Star – Bangladesh Rifles has proposed to the government to immediately disband its four battalions for their direct involvement in the February 25-26 mutiny, and replace them with new ones to strengthen the force and gear up its operational activities.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Kurama leads ships during a rehearsal for the 2009 fleet review (photo by Seaman Dominique Pineiro)

Far East & Pacific

Chosun Ilbo – North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s son and rumored heir apparent on Sept. 9 visited the Ninth North Korean Army Corps in Chongjin, North Hamgyong Province which is in charge of guarding the North Korea-China border. The visit to the corps’ commander and political commissars was conducted in tight secrecy and came amid growing fears about discipline at the unit.
China MFA – The Tibet issue is completely China’s internal affairs. The biased report by the so-called (US) commission ignores the facts and confuses right and wrong. We urge the commission to stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and undermining China-US relations under the pretext of the Tibet-related issues
Asia Times – China’s increasing dependence on Africa for oil and minerals is being matched by concern that only a few Africans benefit from the big deals involved. Extra vigilance and a new attitude to training and development could change that, as China’s own success in reducing poverty demonstrates
Bangkok Post – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday instructed the Transport Ministry to quickly put together a plan for the improvement of the railway system to support a formal request for a development loan and assistance from China, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said
Irrawaddy – Thai soldiers and police entered the homes and offices of more than 10 leaders of the Karen National Union (KNU) and its military wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), around 6 a.m. On Tuesday morning, a KNU source said.
Phnom Penh Post – Troops in the northwest are stockpiling munitions following heightened tensions between Thailand and Cambodia in recent weeks, officers of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) confirmed Monday.
The Australian – Kevin Rudd’s Indonesian solution was last night in chaos as Indonesian officials confirmed they were locked in a standoff with 78 asylum-seekers who were refusing to leave an Australian Customs vessel.

Europe

NYT – The European Union on Tuesday dropped the last remaining sanctions against Uzbekistan imposed after a 2005 crackdown on an uprising
Daily Mail – A militant Islamic group was given more than £113,000 of taxpayers money to run a nursery and two primary schools. members of Hizb ut-Tahrir used the cash to teach children as young as five about their beliefs.
Prague Monitor – The Constitutional Court will hold a public hearing today on the EU Lisbon treaty’s consistence with the Czech constitutional order challenged by a group of senators late September.
AKI – Italy’s defence minister Ignazio La Russa said on Tuesday that at least 400 Italian soldiers sent as reinforcements for the Afghan presidential election would return to Italy by Christmas
Xinhua – Hungary is refurbishing two Mi-17 helicopters and sending them to Afghanistan along with a 30-member crew, Defense Minister Imre Szekeres told Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday
Balkan Insight – Macedonia has responded positively to calls to reinforce the NATO deployment in Afghanistan and will send additional soldiers to the war-torn country, the Defence Ministry revealed
Stockholm News – The Swedish branch of the Somali bank-network al-Barakaat has been removed from the UN terror list. It was on the list for eight years and had their bank account frozen

Africa

Shabelle – the Islamist fighters of Luq town in Gedo region have captured about 80 people including men and women for charges of violating orders which the Islamic administration imposed in Luq, officials told Shabelle radio on Tuesday
The Citizen – Two young men have been executed for spying by an Al-Shabaab in Lower Shabelle region. The men were sentenced by an Islamic court run by the hardline group. Residents in Marka confirmed that Al-Shabaab loyalists had been moving around the town on Saturday evening, telling the people through loud speakers to come to the stadium to witness the execution. Schools in the coastal town suspended classes so that students could go to the stadium for the occasion.
Garowe – A closed source on the ground in south-central Somalia reports on the financial dimension and motivation of the current conflict in Somalia’s far sourthern Jubba regions between Harakat al-Shabaab Mujihideen (H.S.M.) and Hizbul Islam (H.I.), the two major armed Islamist opposition groups to the internationally recognized and ineffective Transitional Federal Government (T.F.G.) that control and have set up administrations in those regions.
Andre Le Sage – Peacebuilding amid Terrorism: Fragile Gains in Somalia
Bloomberg – Rwandan rebels killed 10 people and wounded 20 others in a series of attacks in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Radio Okapi reported. All but two of the victims were civilians, the Kinshasa- based broadcaster said today.
Xinhua – China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and the Nigerian Ministry of Transport signed Monday agreements in the Hilton Hotel in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on building a 186.5-km modernized railway

The amphibious transport dock ship Pre-Commissioning Unit New York arrives at her home port of Naval Station Norfolk for the first time. New York is the fifth of nine San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships, but first to be named after a state instead of a city in remembrance of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The ship has 7.5 tons of World Trade Center steel in her bow and is scheduled for commissioning, Nov. 7 (photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Julie Matyascik)

The Global War

India MEA – Joint Communiqué of the Ninth Meeting of Foreign Ministers of India, Russia & China
Washington Post – U.S. official resigns over Afghan war; Foreign Service officer and former Marine captain says he no longer knows why his nation is fighting
IFPRI – 2009 Global Hunger Index

Sights & Sounds

Africa Today – Two high profile figures in France are found guilty of involvement in an illicit arms deal with Angola. Senegal admits to giving a ‘parting gift’ of $200,000 cash to an IMF official. And a leader of Kenya’s notorious Mungiki sect says he and his group did nothing wrong.