Excite News: "Bremer Faulted Bush Before Terror Attacks | Apr 30, 8:05 AM (ET)
WASHINGTON (AP) - L. Paul Bremer, the U.S. administrator in Iraq, said in a speech six months before the Sept. 11 attacks that the Bush administration was 'paying no attention' to terrorism.
'What they will do is stagger along until there's a major incident and then suddenly say, 'Oh my God, shouldn't we be organized to deal with this,'' Bremer said at a McCormick Tribune Foundation conference on terrorism on Feb. 26, 2001.
Bremer spoke at the conference shortly after he chaired the National Commission on Terrorism, a bipartisan body formed by the Clinton administration to examine U.S. counterterrorism policies.
...
At the speech, delivered in Wheaton, Ill., Bremer, whose diplomatic jobs included a stint as ambassador-at-large for counterterrorism, said a war against terrorism would be unending.
"If you call it a war, you suggest there's a victory," he said. "I would argue there is no final victory in the war against terrorism any more than there is in the so-called war against crime."
Friday, April 30, 2004
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
[Administrations democracy in middle east initiative victim of Iraq, poison in transatlantic relations, endorsement of Israel's unilaterlism]
A Start on Democracy (washingtonpost.com): "Wednesday, April 28, 2004; Page A20
THE BUSH administration entered this year hoping to make democracy promotion the centerpiece of its policy in the Middle East even as it completed the transition to a sovereign government in Iraq. ...
...
Much of the impetus already is gone. Sadly, the Greater Middle East Initiative has become a victim of the administration's other failures: of the growing violence in Iraq, the accumulated poison in transatlantic relations and the backlash against Mr. Bush's decision to endorse Israel's unilateral redrawing of its borders. ...
...
... Substantial progress on promoting democracy in the Middle East will be difficult unless Iraq can be stabilized; even then the Bush administration would face serious resistance from autocratic Arab rulers and the added friction of its new Israel policy. But as the administration's new draft rightly observes, "this initiative is a long-term, generational effort." It's worth making a start at it, even if it's only a modest one.
THE BUSH administration entered this year hoping to make democracy promotion the centerpiece of its policy in the Middle East even as it completed the transition to a sovereign government in Iraq. ...
...
Much of the impetus already is gone. Sadly, the Greater Middle East Initiative has become a victim of the administration's other failures: of the growing violence in Iraq, the accumulated poison in transatlantic relations and the backlash against Mr. Bush's decision to endorse Israel's unilateral redrawing of its borders. ...
...
... Substantial progress on promoting democracy in the Middle East will be difficult unless Iraq can be stabilized; even then the Bush administration would face serious resistance from autocratic Arab rulers and the added friction of its new Israel policy. But as the administration's new draft rightly observes, "this initiative is a long-term, generational effort." It's worth making a start at it, even if it's only a modest one.
Monday, April 12, 2004
The 22 nations of the Arab League, with 260 million people, receive half as much direct investment ... as Sweden with 9 million
TOMPAINE.com - Minding The Middle East: "
Robert B. Reich is the Maurice B. Hexter Professor of Social and Economic Policy at Brandeis University, and was the Secretary of Labor under former President Bill Clinton.
...
In fact, for a quarter century now, the Arab nations of the Middle East have steadily withdrawn from the global economy. Yes, they supply a large portion of the world’s oil. But over the last 25 years the region’s share of global trade has dropped by 75 percent, even as its population has doubled. The 22 nations of the Arab League, with 260 million people, receive half as much direct investment from the rest of the world as Sweden, with a population of 9 million. And foreign equity investment in the region is about the same as foreign equity investment in Indonesia. ...
Robert B. Reich is the Maurice B. Hexter Professor of Social and Economic Policy at Brandeis University, and was the Secretary of Labor under former President Bill Clinton.
...
In fact, for a quarter century now, the Arab nations of the Middle East have steadily withdrawn from the global economy. Yes, they supply a large portion of the world’s oil. But over the last 25 years the region’s share of global trade has dropped by 75 percent, even as its population has doubled. The 22 nations of the Arab League, with 260 million people, receive half as much direct investment from the rest of the world as Sweden, with a population of 9 million. And foreign equity investment in the region is about the same as foreign equity investment in Indonesia. ...
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
Moratinos [sPANISH fm]: Israeli-Palestinian conflict delaying Al-Qaida defeat
Haaretz - Israel News: " 06/04/2004 17:44 | Moratinos: Israeli-Palestinian conflict delaying Al-Qaida defeat | By Haaretz Service and News Agencies
Al-Qaida will not be defeated until there is a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Miguel Angel Moratinos, Spain's new foreign minister and former EU envoy to the Middle East, told the Financial Times in an interview published Monday.
Spanish police have arrested several Moroccans in connection with the attacks and a manhunt for more bombers ended on Saturday when five suspects blew themselves up after a gunfight with police in a Madrid suburb. Police believe the Madrid bombers had ties to Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaida network.
...
The paper also quoted Moratinos as saying that the invasion of Iraq distracted the United States and its allies from the far more important task of fighting international terrorism.
...
"We must give back to Iraqis the sentiment that they are being liberated, that we are there to help them build a democracy. The problem now is that Iraqis see foreign troops as an occupation army," Moratinos said.
Al-Qaida will not be defeated until there is a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Miguel Angel Moratinos, Spain's new foreign minister and former EU envoy to the Middle East, told the Financial Times in an interview published Monday.
Spanish police have arrested several Moroccans in connection with the attacks and a manhunt for more bombers ended on Saturday when five suspects blew themselves up after a gunfight with police in a Madrid suburb. Police believe the Madrid bombers had ties to Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaida network.
...
The paper also quoted Moratinos as saying that the invasion of Iraq distracted the United States and its allies from the far more important task of fighting international terrorism.
...
"We must give back to Iraqis the sentiment that they are being liberated, that we are there to help them build a democracy. The problem now is that Iraqis see foreign troops as an occupation army," Moratinos said.
Report: Blix Says Iraq Worse Off After War: 'the war has laid the foundation for even more terror,'
Excite - News: "Report: Blix Says Iraq Worse Off After War | Apr 6, 10:18 am ET
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The costs of the war in Iraq have outweighed the benefits of removing Saddam Hussein, former U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix told a Danish newspaper.
'It's positive that Saddam and his bloody regime is gone, but when one weighs the costs, it's clearly the negative aspects that dominate,' Blix told daily Jyllands-Posten in an interview.
The Swedish diplomat has criticized the United States and Britain for going to war without U.N. approval rather than allowing his team to continue its hunt for banned weapons.
In the interview, Blix said the war had contributed to a destabilization of the Middle East and a move away from democracy in the region, adding that even though Iraqis had been spared life under a dictator, it was at too high a cost.
'Bush declared war as a part of the U.S. war on terror, but instead of limiting the effects of terror, the war has laid the foundation for even more terror,' Blix said."
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The costs of the war in Iraq have outweighed the benefits of removing Saddam Hussein, former U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix told a Danish newspaper.
'It's positive that Saddam and his bloody regime is gone, but when one weighs the costs, it's clearly the negative aspects that dominate,' Blix told daily Jyllands-Posten in an interview.
The Swedish diplomat has criticized the United States and Britain for going to war without U.N. approval rather than allowing his team to continue its hunt for banned weapons.
In the interview, Blix said the war had contributed to a destabilization of the Middle East and a move away from democracy in the region, adding that even though Iraqis had been spared life under a dictator, it was at too high a cost.
'Bush declared war as a part of the U.S. war on terror, but instead of limiting the effects of terror, the war has laid the foundation for even more terror,' Blix said."
Monday, April 05, 2004
Here is what those [Bush] lips said publicly about al-Qaida between Jan. 1, 2001, ... and Sept. 10, 2001: Nothing
Newsday.com - Opinion: "'Al-Qaida' didn't rush to Bush's lips | Marie Cocco | March 30, 2004
...
Here is what those [Bush] lips said publicly about al-Qaida between Jan. 1, 2001, just before Bush was sworn in as president, and Sept. 10, 2001: Nothing.
There were zero references to al-Qaida during these months. That's according to Federal News Service, which transcribes every presidential utterance - speeches, news conferences, impromptu musings at photo ops, off-the-cuff remarks made striding toward a helicopter, official comments with foreign dignitaries. The search was conducted including the phrase 'al Q' - to capture every possible spelling or translation for al-Qaida. Still nothing.
Of course, the president did mention terrorism, terrorists and counterterrorism 24 times before 9/11. But eight of these comments referred to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Another eight involved a range of terrorist threats, including ethnic terrorism in "
...
Here is what those [Bush] lips said publicly about al-Qaida between Jan. 1, 2001, just before Bush was sworn in as president, and Sept. 10, 2001: Nothing.
There were zero references to al-Qaida during these months. That's according to Federal News Service, which transcribes every presidential utterance - speeches, news conferences, impromptu musings at photo ops, off-the-cuff remarks made striding toward a helicopter, official comments with foreign dignitaries. The search was conducted including the phrase 'al Q' - to capture every possible spelling or translation for al-Qaida. Still nothing.
Of course, the president did mention terrorism, terrorists and counterterrorism 24 times before 9/11. But eight of these comments referred to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Another eight involved a range of terrorist threats, including ethnic terrorism in "
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Dream-Filled Missile Silos vs. bolstering antiterrorist defenses at American ports, borders and nuclear weapons depots
Dream-Filled Missile Silos: "Published: April 1, 2004
The Pentagon is foolishly racing to deliver on President Bush's grandiose 2000 campaign promise to have a still unproven, money-munching missile defense system deployed in time for the November election. It's supposed to provide protection against incoming ballistic missiles. But, so far, the rush into the old 'Star Wars' dream amounts to an extravagant political shield."
... Plagued with cost overruns and technical failures, the overall missile defense program's main feat of rocketry has been its price tag: roughly $130 billion already spent, and $53 billion planned for the next five years.
Mr. Bush ought to pay attention to the powerful advice just offered by a group of 49 retired generals and admirals who say he should shelve his fantasy start-up plan. They urge that the money for that project be spent instead on bolstering antiterrorist defenses at American ports, borders and nuclear weapons depots. As things stand now, the administration is again looking for showy but questionable ways to reinforce Mr. Bush's identity as a wartime president, while ignoring sensible and effective low-tech strategies to reinforce homeland security.
The Pentagon is foolishly racing to deliver on President Bush's grandiose 2000 campaign promise to have a still unproven, money-munching missile defense system deployed in time for the November election. It's supposed to provide protection against incoming ballistic missiles. But, so far, the rush into the old 'Star Wars' dream amounts to an extravagant political shield."
... Plagued with cost overruns and technical failures, the overall missile defense program's main feat of rocketry has been its price tag: roughly $130 billion already spent, and $53 billion planned for the next five years.
Mr. Bush ought to pay attention to the powerful advice just offered by a group of 49 retired generals and admirals who say he should shelve his fantasy start-up plan. They urge that the money for that project be spent instead on bolstering antiterrorist defenses at American ports, borders and nuclear weapons depots. As things stand now, the administration is again looking for showy but questionable ways to reinforce Mr. Bush's identity as a wartime president, while ignoring sensible and effective low-tech strategies to reinforce homeland security.