Blinded by the Money

I was reading this story and just felt flabbergasted at this comment.

This has made him apprehensive. "We must ask the United States to provide proof to back up their accusations against Iran," he says. Guttenberg hasn't forgotten how claims that former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's possessed weapons of mass
destruction were used to justify the invasion of Iraq. Until now, says Guttenberg, the notion that Tehran is smuggling weapons to Afghanistan and that Iranian al Quds brigades are operating inside Iraq is little more than a rumor. "But it's important," he says, "that the Americans provide us with solid evidence

NY Times knows that Iran is in Iraq and so does the Guardian, so why does the government of Germany know this? As for Iranian made arms in Afghanistan well:

WASHINGTON, April 17 — A shipment of Iranian-made weapons bound for the Taliban was recently captured by allied forces in Afghanistan, the Pentagon’s top officer said Tuesday.

But I imagine one can overlook such things when Germany is exporting over 5 billion dollars worth of goods to Iran.

ECN 11/8/07

France, US Will Be Allies 'Forever,' Sarkozy Tells CongressBy Monisha BansalCNSNews.com Staff WriterNovember 08, 2007(CNSNews.com) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy addressed a joint session of Congress on Wednesday and spoke of strengthening ties between the U.S. and France. While some hailed the foreign policy shift, others said it is more symbolic than substantive.

Italy and Romania urge EU help with migrants

08.11.2007 - 09:21 CET
The prime ministers of Italy and Romania have urged the European Commission to help EU countries cope with the integration of other member states' citizens - in particular of Roma origin.
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The Silenced, Imprisoned Opposition
Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf on Thursday announced that elections would be held in February. Still, oppression of the opposition continues, as thousands were arrested overnight. Legal recourse is non-existent. By Matthias Gebauer in Lahore, Pakistan more...

Stocks in Europe and Asia plummet after U.S. sell-off
By MICHAEL M. GRYNBAUM AND PETER S. GOODMAN
Investors worldwide grew skittish over rising oil prices and the prospect of a substantial economic slowdown in the U.S.

ECN 11/7/07

Venezuela's Planned Arms Purchases Leave Neighbors UnsettledBy Leandro PradaCNSNews.com CorrespondentNovember 07, 2007Buenos Aires (CNSNews.com) - Venezuela is planning to extend its weapons purchases from Russia, adding to the $4 billion Chavez already has spent over the past two years.

How long before he “helps” his neighbors find the same perfection he has achieved?

EU split into several camps on Russia strategy, says report

07.11.2007 - 17:35 CET
Within the EU there are a least five camps when it comes to dealing with Russia, ranging from the 'Trojan horse' countries to the 'new Cold warriors', says a new study analysing the bloc's divided approach to its giant eastern neighbour. Greece and Cyprus are portrayed as most likely to defend Moscow's interests at the EU table.
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Which means nothing will be done and that fits right in to Putin’s schedule.

America, Mon Amour!
The Bush administration long seemed to see the French as cynical cowards. But that has changed now that Nicolas Sarkozy, an avowed fan of the United States, is at the helm in France. Washington's policies toward Iran could pivot on Sarkozy's US visit this week. By Gregor Peter Schmitz in Washington more...

Oil prices top $98 a barrel, setting new record
Falling dollar, fears of limited supplies pressure crude

NEW YORK - Oil prices stalled in their climb toward $100 a barrel Wednesday after a government report said oil inventories fell less than expected last week while refinery utilization remained flat.

Specialty Breeds

I guess I am a big celebrate of diversity.

Pakistan Protest Scheduled

I was wondering what Benazir Bhutto take on things is. Up till now I had only hear where she was but not what she was going to do.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto threatened on Wednesday to lead a mass protest march to the capital unless President Pervez Musharraf quits as army chief, holds elections and restores the constitution.

Bhutto, leader of the largest opposition party and the politician most capable of mobilizing street power, gave Musharraf until Friday to comply.

Bhutto was forced on Musharraf by the US in an effort to form a more moderate approach to the unrest that Pakistan is experience. She is taking her life in her hands right now even more so then when she came back. It starts me wondering if Musharraf was behind the assassination attempt when she first arrived and just tried to used the terrorist to hide blame.

ECN 11/6/07

British Peers Analyze America's Role in the World By Kevin McCandlessCNSNews.com CorrespondentNovember 06, 2007London (CNSNews.com) - The battle of ideas between Americanism and anti-Americanism will set the tone of the 21st century, according to several members of the British House of Lords.In a recent debate in the British upper house, Lord Maurice Saatchi said that hatred against America has spread into a global phenomenon, crossing borders and religion.

Brussels suggests new tools to fight terrorism

06.11.2007 - 17:27 CET
Following a series of terrorist attacks and foiled plots on EU territory, EU home affairs commissioner Franco Frattini has tabled an extensive counter-terrorism package moving largely into the area of member states' security. But MEPs have expressed concern about infringement of civil liberties.

Danish Party Threatened by Palestinian Militants
A right-wing Danish political party has been threatened by the Palestinian terror group al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigade for using an image of the Prophet Muhammad in its campaign literature. The party wanted to show its commitment to free speech. By Charles Hawley more...

In Russian renaissance, safety takes backseat
By C.J. CHIVERS
Respect for law, safety and public health still lag far behind the Kremlin's restored sense of self, as evidenced by the scale at which Russia's population suffers from fires.

When a company fails to put safety first, the employees develop a sense of fatalism, the idea that the company doesn’t care about them. What happens when a country does the same thing?

Brinkmanship and the Second Choice

I have posted several links to different articles in the ECN about the situation between Turkey and Iraq. The PKK is seen as terrorist by the government of Turkey so much that they voted to authorize military action inside Iraq. This is strangely similar to what the US Congress did back 2003. May on the left have commented that they did so because they thought it was a negotiation tactic and it was in a sort. When you negotiate like that though, you have to make sure that it isn’t an empty threat. I have no doubt for Turkey, it also was not an empty threat. They even punctuated the fact by a limit incursion in to Iraq. When negotiation have gone this far, there is only two outcomes. The first being war, an option nobody wanted. The second outcome is only possible is when two mature nation understand that war is the worst option. Turkey understands that as well as the US and both are working to find a reasonable course of action.

WASHINGTON: President George W. Bush pledged Monday to increase intelligence cooperation with Turkey in its fight against Kurdish rebels, hoping to head off any significant Turkish military operation in Iraq.

The Kurds are the wild card in Iraq since they are essentially isolationist from the rest of the Muslims in the region. They want to have a lot more control of their destiny then they have ever had before. They don’t quite have what they want under the new Iraqi Constitution but it is enough that they are willing to work at keeping it for now.

To avoid war, the Kurds have to continue to see that what exists isn’t worth losing. If this is the truth;

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) denied in a joint official statement supporting the Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

"We in the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) are strongly denying these groundless statements of supporting the PKK, asserting that we are looking forward to bolster ties with Turkey", the joint statement said.

Then all side can approach the PKK as terrorist and resolve this without a full scale war.