Protests in Myanmar brought fewer people to the streets by Corina Ciubotaru

Protests in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, continued today and so did the crackdown, even though less people turned up in the capital Yangon and large cities like Mandalay. Yesterday, 9 more people were killed by the junta, the country's military regime, while dozens of others were injured, beaten and arrested. The military has begun arresting monks from monasteries believed to support the opposition forces like the National Democratic Party, whose main figure Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for years now, while other prominent members have taken refuge in neighboring Thailand. Some monasteries have been sealed off by the army, who only began to shoot at the protesters three days ago, when they entered into a restricted area surrounding a monastery. Myanmar's government has been urged to take peaceful action against the protesters and open negotiations while its most influential neighbor and friend, China, was asked to try and convince them democracy might be for the best. As next year's Olympics grow nearer, China has now realized that bloodshed in this country could damage the Games' overall appearance. The U.S. however took action against Burmese officials, establishing a permanent visa ban against the generals and their families, while the U.N. Security Council discussed the problem and decided not to intervene forcefully. It was decided the matter belongs to "internal affairs" and that the problem would best be resolved by the ASEAN, an economic group of Southeast Asian countries to which isolated Myanmar is one of the 10 members.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070927/ap_on_re_as/myanmar;_ylt=AhuVUqLU7duAk90dfvY.TASs0NUE

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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US private contractors by Claudia Sonea

After Bush's meeting on Tuesday with Iraq's Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, Defense Secretary Robert Gates debated on Congress the issue of private contractors on Wednesday due to the incident involving Blackwater that killed 11 Iraqis on September 16, while protecting a U.S. diplomatic convoy in Baghdad. He said to the Senate Appropriations Committee that the presence of 137,000 private contractors in Iraq is justifiable under the condition that US forces have to focus more on combat and they can fulfill the simple tasks of providing food, laundry services and guarding fixed sites. However, he added that there must be law that controls their rights and actions. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also asked last week for a full report of State Department security in Iraq and of the rules governing security contractor actions. Moreover, a joint U.S.-Iraqi commission will take a look the September 16 events. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said in a statement to the committee said that in 56 missions Blackwater used weapons, but each time the situations were reviewed and nothing wrong was found. Loren's Thompson, a defense expert at the Lexington Institute, declaration of the fact that terrorists do not obey laws, therefore making it difficult for the contractors or militaries to fight according to the laws, but she also said that private contractors were a problem from the beginning. Gates say that the Pentagon should have sufficient legal authority to control the contractors, especially now that they can be prosecuted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice unlike before November 2006. Another concern of his is the luring of soldiers due to the big salary the contractors offer and that is why five-person team including Gen. David Petraeus and Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno was sent to Iraq. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England issued a memorandum reminding the commanders about the fact that they have the legal authority to check the private contractors if they comply with US rules and that they are all authorized and trained for their jobs. The initial purpose of the speech was the request for nearly $190 billion in new funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but it ended in debating the private contractors' issue. Like always, they cannot stick to one thing, especially when it comes to the financial aspect. Stay connected see where the investigation is heading.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070926/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq_contractors;_ylt=Ak8vQRQZtEVxr3ZOCQFT2_us0NUE

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Military in Myanmar opened fire on rioting monks by Corina Ciubotaru

It started out as a call to lower oil prices but now, it's turning into a battle. Military-led Myanmar is in the middle of a historical event, as monks continue to protest on the streets of Yangon. The junta imposed curfew and said people aren't allowed to gather in groups bigger than five but the protests continued, so today the military opened fire and the police took away dozens of monk. Some monks stated a few days ago that the marches wouldn't stop until the junta fell, which is what everybody wants, except for the military government, obviously. International voices raging from Dalai Lama to President Bush have expressed their disagreement of the way this situation has been handled and urged the government to negotiate with the protesters. Neighboring countries like China, India and Thailand are also watching the situation very carefully and have issued declarations calling for negotiation and peace. The United States took measures against the government of Myanmar, like creating a visa ban for an unlimited period of time for the rulers and their families. In 1988, the Asian country faced a similar challenge when students started rioting. That movement ended in bloodshed and neither the international community nor the people of Myanmar want to see that again. Monks are revered people in the country, which makes the decision to open fire at them that much more significant. Some think the international community should start to intervene in this crisis, or else things will get worse and the region will be unstable for many years to come.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070925/ap_on_re_as/myanmar;_ylt=Am_6RmciGfCKV6uxHawdCoSs0NUE

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Iraq leader says flow of arms must stop by Delia Cruceru

At the UN General Assembly in New York, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki pleaded for national reconciliation process in order to get rid of terrorism from the country and bring peace to the region. He said that the flow of arms, suicide bombers and terrorism funding in his country must stop or else "disastrous consequences" not only for the region but for the entire world would take place. "National reconciliation is stronger than the weapons of terrorism," he said. "Today we feel optimistic that countries of the region realize the danger of the terrorist attacks against Iraq, that it is not in their interest for Iraq to be weak." He pointed that Iraq made considerable progress as the sectarian violence has been reduced, and provinces from the west like Anbar have stability in the region. According to al-Maliki in Iraq there are hundreds of political parties active within 20 political alliances; more than 6,000 civil organizations; hundreds of newspapers and magazines and 40 local and satellite TV stations. But this matter doesn't glad the new wave of terrorism, with terrorist targeting the "new Iraq" for they dislike the progress made in the country. "Terrorism kills civilians, journalists, actors, thinkers and professionals. It attacks universities, marketplaces and libraries. It blows up mosques and churches and destroys the infrastructure of state institutions," al-Maliki said. He added that the new Constitution doesn't permit any interference in Iraq's internal affairs and warned against activities of some neighbors without naming them.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070926/ap_on_re_us/un_general_assembly;_ylt=AoC7S3f7dXUx39jf6cSrNW2s0NUE

by Delia Cruceru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Myanmar junta fights against democracy by Nina Gotzmannova

Peaceful march of Myanmar monks and nuns for democracy had turned into a bloody bath. On Wednesday Myanmar security forces used guns against the demonstrationists and left several people dead. By this act Myanmar government showed they are not afraid to use power and violence against people. The anti-government protest started in the middle of August this year when junta announced the prices of gas will be increased as much as 500%. At first only opposition leaders and students protested, but on 18 September thousands of monks and nuns joined the march. Approximately 100.000 people demonstrated on 24 September in Yangon, making that the biggest anti-government action since 1988. Almost twenty years ago the democracy uprising failed and soldiers killed thousands of demonstrationists. It is still not clear, how many victims does the Wednesdays shooting have. The government said only one man was killed, but the witnesses said something else. According to dissidents outside Myanmar the shooting left eight people dead, five monks and three civilians. The information minister of Myanmar government-in-exile stated that there are only three victims, but seventeen injured people. The pictures and videos of the attack were spread all over the world by dissidents using internet and cell phone services. But the junta has already cut some cell phone service, so it will be harder for the monks to gain attention. Recently they had won one thing. The world is interesting about what's going on in Myanmar. The United States and European Union made a statement, saying junta should hear to Myanmar citizen voices. The U. N. is alarmed too. Ironic is, that Aung San Suu Kyi (prominent Myanmar Nobel Prize winner and pro-democracy activist) was put under the house arrest in 1989 by the military regime known as ‘State Peace and Development Council'.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070926/ap_on_re_as/myanmar;_ylt=AmYR8u3jPHiXlaxAz8wr4Aus0NUE

by Nina Gotzmannova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Myanmar protesters shot and beaten by Corina Ciubotaru

After more than a week of protests, the Myanmar police took action against the Buddhist monks and civilians filling the streets of Yangon. They have still to start negotiations despite international voices urging them to resolve the dispute peacefully, and have resorted to violence against the highest moral authority of the country. Two monks and one bystander were killed in the shootings in Yangon, Myanmar's former capital city, and around 200 monks were arrested. The military regime also made sure none of the protesters made contact with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was prevented from taking power when she was democratically elected in 1990, and has remained in house arrest since 2002. Voices from all over the world called for patience and restraint from the junta, Myanmar's military regime, as violent measures against peaceful protesters are against international law. The situation in the country formerly known as Burma emerged as an important new topic at the U.N. General Assembly, held these days in New York. While the country's neighbors and investors China and Russia blocked a U.N. intervention, many authorities in the region also watch the situation with great concern and call for peaceful negotiations. The shootings occurred after 100 monks tried to defy the army by venturing into an off-limits area around the Shwedagon Pagoda and were greeted with tear gas as they sat down and started praying, against the government orders to not assemble. Several monks were beaten and others escaped and headed for the Sule Pagoda.

related story: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20070926/tpl-uk-myanmar-43a8d4f_13.html

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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France's budget deficit said to balance itself in five years by Corina Ciubotaru

France, one of the E.U.'s founding members and the group's second largest economy hasn't been doing very well lately from an economic point of view. Prime Minister Francois Fillon has warned that the country is bankrupt, but President Sarkozy and the budget minister Eric Woerth think that the trade deficit problem is not major and can be fixed easily. The projected deficit for next year is 41.7 billion euro while the national debt is over one trillion euro, but Mr Sarkozy thinks the economy should be stimulated and it will bounce back by itself. After declaring there is no need for an austerity program, he proceeded to cut taxes including for homeowners and reduce the burden on the wealthy according to promises he had made during his presidential campaign. Some 458 million euro will be saved from the 22,921 public servants who will retire next year, while the sale of state properties and the increase in medical charges to reduce early retirement are said to bring another 600 million euro to the budget. Creators of this economic program think the budget will balance itself by 2012. His actions defying the PM's advice may be the signal of bigger problems between the two, but President Sarkozy also has some differences with the European Central Bank's president Jean-Claude Trichet. Their attacks in the press started after Sarkozy became President four months ago; he has been trying to take advantage of them being from the same country and persuade Trichet into lowering ECB rates.

related story: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20070926/tpl-france-politics-economy-budget-9eb7866_2.html

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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USA meets Iraq by Claudia Sonea

On Tuesday President Bush met Iraq's Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, and tried to seem as peaceful as possible, although both of them had complaints against the other. The American President was unsatisfied by the stalling of action towards a political reconciliation, while the other one harshly criticized the killing of Iraqi civilians by private U.S. security contractors. These issues very debated in a diplomatic climate and both used polite language, because they are constraint of the interdependence that exists between them. There is no other appropriate candidate for the Iraq leadership and Maliki occupies the job due mostly to the White House support. Bush is under a lot of pressure from the democrats and from the Republicans, mostly because there are few results in bringing the rivals sects together in order to end the war and fulfill the benchmarks imposed by the US Congress and the process is very slow. Despite the fact that US President praised Maliki, he said there are problems to be solved, like the oil law that had been stalled in the Iraqi parliament, the need of political parties to make stride and make good law to pass; the necessity of preparing well the security forces. The latter problem is somewhat antagonist to the speech bush had in January when he said that until November Iraq will be capable to handle security in all 18 provinces. Also Maliki strarted to find excuses like the task is gigantic and then pointed out that Blackwater USA, a private contractor for USA that handles protection for State Department personnel in Iraq, killed 11 Iraqi civilians while escorting a diplomatic convoy in Baghdad. Bush offerd his sympathy and added that there will be a detailed investigation on the matter. Stephen Hadley, US National Security Adviser, stated that Maliki demanded that Iraq'a sovereignty to be respected, while Bush asked a list of suspected violations and noted that the United States has held accountable those responsible for the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. At the U.N. General Assembly, Bush mentioned only passing Iraq and focused on Afghanistan and Lebanon underlining the fact that those that want democratic regimes must be supported. Also Zimbabwe, Sudan and Cuba's repressive regimes were criticized and Burma situation was debated while revealing that measures will be held against the military junta like US visa ban. Like Iraq, Iran was mentioned briefly among other countries like including Belarus, North Korea and Syria in order to avoid any other debates on the relations with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Like all other conference where Bush speaks, there were outside demonstrations, 400 people that oppose to the Iraq war and the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. More on this subject to come…

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070925/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush;_ylt=AoovCiBSBJgFhe3xdMzOVWqs0NUE

by Claudia Sonea for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave a controversial speech at Columbia University by Corina Ciubotaru

Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was invited to hold a speech at Columbia University on Monday and as we would expect, he managed to create some controversy. Thousands protested against him in front of the university campus and the United Nations Headquarters, but the person who attacked him most violently was the head of Columbia, Mr. Lee Bollinger. His brutal introduction and aggressive questions were answered calmly but strongly by Ahmadinejad, who didn't hesitate to quote the Quran and answer questions regarding everything from the status of women and homosexuals in Iran to the country's nuclear program. In short, everything we all would like to know directly from him. As for his host's conduct, I think any head of state invited to speak to students should be treated with respect and not be attacked with suppositions, especially if he is a former professor; freedom of speech is believed to be for everyone, even Islamic leaders, so maybe it would have been a better idea not to invite him at all if he is seen as a murderer. The students made a peaceful statement, with banners bearing messages as different as ""Racist homophobic misogynist get off my campus" and "No war on Iran". Meanwhile, protesters outside the United Nations on 47th Street were more annoyed by his past denial of the Holocaust and of Israel's rights. Mr. Ahmadinejad is in America to attend the U.N. General Assembly and asked to be allowed to visit the 9/11 site, to express sympathy for the victims. His request was denied by the city of New York.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070924/ap_on_re_us/iran_us;_ylt=AnuDp.JyS98mQP_4uxgGeyis0NUE

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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No rights for Burmese people by Claudia Sonea

In response to the government's decision to double the price of fuel last month, eight days ago a protest began in order to overthrow it. On Monday five columns of 1000 monks with 400 sympathizers that joined, including officials from the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party whose leader is Aung San Suu Kyi, winner of the Nobel Prize and a democracy supporter that was arrested for five years now, marched to her house where she is detained, in Rangoon. The Alliance of All Burmese Buddhist Monks is the organization that leads the protest and stated they won't give up until they wipe the military dictatorship. There are fears that the 1988 tragedy might happen again- 3000 people were killed by the military due to the democracy uprising. Burma's military junta already announced that they are ready for actions and that the Buddhist Monks that started the protest will be severely punished. Therefore the USA is taken actions against the military leaders and will give ban on US visa according to US National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley. Mandalay, Sittwe and Pakokku are just three of the 25 towns and cities where marches took place. Brig Gen Thura Myint Maung, minister for religion in a meeting with the clergy warned that if the militant young monks won't be controlled otherwise action against them will be taken according to the law. China pressures the government to avoid the bloodshed and instability, also EU tried to solve the matter and appealed to Burma's leader in order to solve the problem peacefully and demonstrate that a political reform it is possible. Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader although supports the struggle for freedom and democracy, asks the militaries to not use violence against the ones that march. But UK Ambassador Mark Canning stated that even if the violence is not desired, it is more likely to happen because the generals might see their authority threaten. Until further details, BBC Asia correspondent Andrew Harding reports that a reconciliation doesn't seem probable.

related story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7010839.stm

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Iraq's PM says his country's situation is improving by Corina Ciubotaru

Iraq's Prime Minister is in Manhattan these days, attending the U.N. General Assembly and he took some time to talk to the media about his country's situation and the way he sees American help. It turns out Mr. al-Maliki is a true diplomat and a strong man capable of taking a war-torn country like Iraq towards a democratic future. He spoke his mind about the Blackwater incident last week, when an American security firm killed 9 Iraqis and also about the U.S. forces arresting an Iranian official who had been invited in the country by the government. Though he acknowledged the importance of American forces for the well-being of his people, he was firm in pointing out the mistakes. He believes strongly in his country and has made efforts to have a suitable government, even as some of the ministers left it last month. Nouri al-Maliki has been criticized repeatedly for not being able to make changes in his country, but we must remember he has only been Prime Minister since May 2006 and radical changes take time. He has requested the U.N. send more troops to his country because he feels the security situation is improving, but in the end he knows that the country's well-being is up to the Iraqis themselves. In the meantime, in Iraq people are growing tired of the surge, most of them saying it did nothing to improve the situation in their country. The number of Iraqi casualties in this war is nearing 1 million and nobody can know how many more there will be until the end.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070923/ap_on_re_mi_ea/al_maliki_interview;_ylt=AjscNH5aotJzcpv4R7ogRjas0NUE

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Buddhist monks protest on the streets of Myanmar by Corina Ciubotaru

In Myanmar things are looking bad, but peaceful. Since August 19, Buddhist monks filled the streets of former capital Yangon, gathering a crowd of up to 100,000 people to protest against the government. It began as a march against the rising of oil prices that would increase prices but eventually it turned into a protest against the junta, Myanmar's military regime. It is believed the generals ruling the country are keeping it from developing and they are also responsible for the house arrest of Nobel Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy party. She was chosen to lead the country by her people in 1990, but the military regime did not allow her to take power. Now 62, she has been under continuous house arrest since May 2003 and she was only permitted to greet the protesters from the gate, during her first appearance in the last four years. The people weren't allowed to go near her during the Sunday march to her house but the action is still peaceful, as monks are the highest authority in Myanmar and the military did not dare open fire. A group of monks even called for peaceful protests until the junta regime fell, as civilians walking around the protesting monks and nuns locked hands around them for protection. The situation came under international scrutiny; the U.S. and the U.N. urged the military regime to start discussions about political reform and unity, while the country's neighbors watch the situation closely and hope for the best.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070923/ap_on_re_as/myanmar;_ylt=ArJ8eSVtdYkERZInH3.dIsOs0NUE

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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Bin Laden on video by Claudia Sonea

Due to the celebration of 9/11 events of this year, al-Qaida has began to broadcast videos and showing off their attitude. The last tape presented Osama calling the Pakistany to rebellion against their present president and motivating the assassinations attempts on Gen. Pervez Musharraf as their holy duty. Ayman al-Zawahri, bin Laden's chief deputy who is thought to be, by some counterterrorism, al-Qaida's operational chief appeared on the tape instigating the Islamic fighters from North Africa to Afghanistan and stating that their foes are nearly done, that the Americans are losing wars Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Because the core regrouped at the Afghan-Pakistani border region, the terrorist tone was triumphing. Michael Jacobson, a former FBI terrorism expert now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy admits that they have strong reasons to do it, because the insurgents are becoming stronger every day. Al-Zawahri and Abu Yahia al-Libi asks the Pakistanis to rise against their leader and bin Laden's comes to strengthen the declaration of jihad against him. The main reason is Red Mosque, a militant stronghold in the Pakistani capital overrun by commandos in July and the fact that they consider Pakistani president a lackey of the USA. The tape entitled Come to Jihad contains fatwas, or religious edicts, from hard-line Islamic scholars on the duty of Muslims to eliminate infidel rulers quoted by bin Laden. State Department spokesman Tom Casey confirmed US position saying that they are not surprise by the attempts of attracting the Pakistanis on their side, because they have been their main partners against the terrorists. It was presented the meeting of al-Qaida's leader in Afghanistan, Mustafa Abu al-Yazeed, with a senior Taliban commander, Dadullah Mansoor. They vowed eternal loyalty and help against Americans and said that the relations are becoming stronger. Will the crimes and terror end someday? Now that the rebels are more and bolder and their third tape proves it, there are many fears that should be taken in consideration. Don't go away, you might give them an idea of how to change things.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070920/ap_on_re_mi_ea/al_qaida_video;_ylt=AueRLoIayHtLy6LUybs2j7Ks0NUE

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Sarkozy wants tougher Iran sanctions by Delia Cruceru

France's president, Nicolas Sarkozy declared Thursday in an interview for two French televisions that he will seek tougher U.N. sanctions on Iran accusing it of developing nuclear weapons. "Iran is trying to acquire a nuclear bomb. I say to the French, 'It's unacceptable,'" Sarkozy said. Iran insisted that the nuclear program is used for producing civilian electric power. The French President tried to distance himself from the harsh words that the Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner used "we have to prepare for the worst, and the worst is war." He said that France doesn't want war, although it is a difficult matter, but negotiations with Iran are still possible. The Foreign Minister insisted that the words were taken out of the context, offering himself Thursday to visit Iran for talks on the nuclear standoff. "'The worst is war,' I said, not to favor war, but to fight against war," Kouchner said. Sarkozy remembered the manner that the international community used for convincing North Korea and Libya to stop the nuclear program, wanting to be applied for Iran too: Through discussion, dialogue, sanctions," he said. A spokesman for the French President, David Martinon said that the president desires the European countries not to seek economic investments or markets and to punish Iran for its nuclear program, in parallel to the drive to secure new UN sanctions. "We would like to obtain that from all EU countries, and we are not alone in wanting to do so," Martinon said.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070920/ap_on_re_eu/france_iran;_ylt=AokSTUPQlVDcB_zMEwtX6C6s0NUE

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Another Lebanese official killed in attack by Corina Ciubotaru

Lebanon is nearing a political crisis as several anti-Syrian officials have been killed during the past few months. Starting with the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri in February 2005, eight politicians with anti-Syrian views were killed and the majority in Parliament which is currently held by the Christian party may soon come to an end. This will ultimately change the course of upcoming presidential elections in Lebanon, on September 25th as the thin majority would barely be able to choose a new country leader. The latest victim of this conflict is Antoine Ghanem, who had returned to Beirut on Sunday after spending some time in exile for fears of attacks on him and his family. A car exploded just as he drove by it just outside of Beirut, killing him, his bodyguard and five passers-by instantly and injuring 19 other people. Mr. Ghanem was 64 years old and he was known as a major supporter of Lebanon's Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, also from the Christian Phalange party. The killing was condemned by world leaders; the U.N., the United States, E.U. countries and a few other nations condemned it and agreed an international investigation would reveal a connection between the deaths of all eight leaders. If the president can not be elected, some fear two governments appearing again and fighting for position while the country suffers, as they did in 1975-1990. Syrian officials have admitted these events are bad for stability in the region but have not admitted to have any implication in them.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070919/ts_nm/lebanon_explosion_dc;_ylt=Av1ZhMJiI.45X5dPFkXxYoOs0NUE

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U. S. and Iraq will join in an investigative commission by Nina Gotzmannova

Tragedies rarely bring anything good. The last announcement of U. S. and Iraqi government may be a small satisfaction for the families of 11 victims of weekend shooting in Iraq. It may by also a victory in prevention another shootings and it will help create Iraq a safer place to live. After the incident on 16 September, when security team of Blackwater USA, one of three private security companies in Iraq, began firing at civilians, U. S. and Iraq decided to create an investigative commission. The conjoint commission has several purposes to fulfill and several targets to reach. All of them can bring interesting results. The most important thing is to examine what exactly happened on weekend. The witnesses of the shooting have several different versions of what has happened. The Blackwater team stated that the diplomatic convoy they were escorting came under attack while the Iraqi witnesses and officials said the security team began firing without provocation. Another witnesses said they heard an explosion and a bomb exploded, another stated that the guards began the deadly attack to help their cars get out of the heavy traffic. According to Iraqi officials this was the seventh incident of Blackwater. After the committee will open the independent investigation, the allegations will be confirmed or refused. However, the license of Blackwater was suspended a day after the incident and it's still unclear whether it will be renewed or the shooting was the last job Blackwater's guards have done. Another target of the investigation office will be exploring how the embassy deal with security and possibly recommend some changes. They want to improve the security in a way which doesn't affect the civilians and overtake such tragic incidents.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070919/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq_probe;_ylt=AhP__R06wgn3rZU2Qy81UBms0NUE

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Gaza in darkness by Claudia Sonea

Apparently the chosen people forgot what goodness really means, especially the holy advice to love the others how one would love himself. Just a few hours before Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State, arrived there with the purpose of setting the peace conference due to take place this fall, they declared Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip an enemy entity and therefore they will cut utilities to the territory, leaving the inhabitants in the dark and cold. The officials did not give any specific dates, but the Palestinians and the Arabs that backs them interpreted as a proof that Israel will do as it sees fit regardless of the cost to civilians, and that the U.S. will not block Israel's hand. Rise did not comment upon the matter, even though it is complicating U.S. plan to relaunch peace talks. US did not give any detail on the entire purpose of the summit, not anything about those that are expected to attend it. On Condoleezza Rice's agenda the main purpose remains the conquest of Arabs States in order to back up Palestinians in any deal they sign with the Israel. After sealing Gaza's borders, halting trade in and out of the area, Israel thought it is time cut electricity, water and other services. The main reason they say it is to put an end to Palestinian rocket fire on Israeli towns from launching sites in Gaza, but in fact they could just well draw a bull's eye on them, because the situation will get worst and the retaliatory measure will not be late to appear. Although Hamas militants who hold control unofficially in Gaza are not responsible for the rocket attacks, they are guilty for not doing enough to prevent it, according to Israel officials. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. Grim- met with US Secretary of State and received assurances that USA will not let people from Gaza alone and that they too consider Hamas an enemy entity, but that doesn't mean all of the province inhabitants have to suffer. The decision is legal, but much above the human standard. Even Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the moderate leader who is USA and Israel hope, was very unsatisfied by the decision, because the embargo will continue to rise and the innocent people from Gaza will only suffer more. Rice met with defense chief, Ehud Barak, who told her that new military operations in Gaza might have to take place. Also she plans to see Abbas and other West Bank Palestinians. Will they get to an agreement and stop the awful situation of Gaza in the darkness? More to come…

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Authors of the Cambodian genocide are to appear in court by Corina Ciubotaru

In Cambodia, some justice is about to be done to the survivors of the "Killing Fields" under Pol Pot's regime. Even though the leader himself has died in 1998, his Number 2 has recently been arrested and charged with crimes against humanity. Nuon Chea, now aged 82, is in bad health after a stroke and will receive medical care to make sure he survives until the verdict. He is believed to have been Pol Pot's right hand man and chief ideologue and he is held directly responsible for the death of 1.7 million people from starvation, exhaustion and execution, during four years: 1975-1979. When he was arrested, he was living in a little cottage near the Thailand border and his neighbor was former President Khieu Samphan, who is also expected to be arrested in the same trial. Prosecutors want to bring another three men to justice besides Nuon Chea and Kaing Guek Eav, head of the S-21 torture center, who have already been trialed; Khieu Samphan, Ieng Sary and Meas Muth are believed to be those three men. Another leader of the regime, Ta Mok the military chief, died before he could face the trials expected to begin early next year. The genocide court in Cambodia is believed to be weak and the proceedings are going slowly because of political intervention. But it is necessary to bring the former heads of government to court in order to give peace to the few survivors of the period. Death is not considered enough punishment for the authors of this genocide.

related story: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20070919/tpl-uk-cambodia-rouge-43a8d4f_8.html

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Costas Karamanlis was elected Prime Minister of Greece by Corina Ciubotaru

Elections took place in Greece last week, and Costas Karamanlis was once again elected Prime Minister. Thus, he has defeated George Papandreou and the socialist party which had ruled the country until 2004. The two men are descendants of high political figures in Greece and their families have a tradition in politics, and both the winner and the loser were surprising for the analysts. The Prime Minister and his party were elected despite dissatisfaction by the general public in regard to the way things were handled when fires devastated the country a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, Mr. Papandreou is the son and the grandson of former Prime Ministers of the country so he was expected to continue the tradition. After having lost the previous elections, he was accused of not being able to reform his party in a way that would guarantee future success. Due to the economic status of the country, the second poorest in the euro market despite a GDP increase of 4.4 this year, and to the handling of the fire situation, smaller parties finally got a break and an increased number of votes. One far-right party called LA.O.S. is the first one to enter Parliament since the country became a democracy in 1974 and even though Karamanlis' New Democracy now forms a majority in Parliament, it is not a strong one that can guarantee strong reforms. The party won about 43 percent of the vote and 154 seats in the Parliament, while Papandreou's PASOK won around 38 percent and 103 seats.

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Iraq expels American security firm by Delia Cruceru

The Iraqi Government decided to expel Blackwater SUA, a security firm that protects U.S. diplomats and other westerns, after the company was involved in a fatal shooting where Iraqi citizens were killed. Condoleezza Rice called Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Monday to apologize for the shootings, agreeing to run a "fair and transparent investigation", according to a statement from Mr. Maliki's office. "She told the prime minister that we were investigating this incident and wanted to gain a full understanding of what happened," deputy State Department spokesman Tom Casey said. "She reiterated that the United States does everything it can to avoid such loss of life, in contrast to the enemies of the Iraqi people who deliberately target civilians." Abdul-Karim Khalaf, the Interior Minister spokesman said they canceled the license for Blackwater prevented them from working all over Iraqi territory. He added that eight civilians were killed and 13 were wounded when contractors believed to be working for Blackwater USA opened fire on civilians in the predominantly Sunni neighborhood of Mansour in western Baghdad. A spokeswoman for Blackwater, Anne E. Tyrrell said in a statement Monday that the contractors acted "lawfully and appropriately in response to a hostile attack in Baghdad on Sunday." According to them the civilians were actually armed enemies and that the contractors had to open fire because the convoy was "violently attacked by armed insurgents, not civilians, and our people did their job to defend human life.

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Plane crash in Thailand kills 91 by Delia Cruceru

At least 91 people died in the plane that crashed Sunday on the Phuket province of Thailand. The plane was carrying mostly foreign tourist that were heading on the island for vacation. The flight belongs to the One-Two-Go Airlines and it was carrying 123 passengers and seven crew members from the capital Bangkok to Phuket. Most of the passengers were from France, Germany, Israel, Australia and Britain. The pilot tried to land on a stormy weather when he lost control and the plane crashed. Authorities recovered the black boxes but they say it's too early to say what caused Sunday's crash and that the information on the black boxes will be sent to the United States for analysis. "Hopefully, we will learn in a few weeks the cause of accident," said Transport Minister Theera Haocharoen. Survivors of the crash said that they felt there was something strange as the plane was dropping too fast. "Our plane was landing, you can tell it was in trouble, because it kind of landed then came up again the second time," said John Gerard O'Donnell of Ireland. Other survivors declared that on their way out they had to step over other passengers that were engulfed in flames. "I stepped over them on the way out of the plane," Parinwit Chusaeng told The Nation TV channel. "I was afraid that the airplane was going to explode, so I ran away."

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A Holocaust mystery finds some answers by Delia Cruceru

In 2005 Shari Klages decided to uncover the significance and the background of a thick leather-bound album that was in the possession of her father, Arnold Unger a survivor of War World II from the Nazi camp of Dachau. The album contains 30 pictures drawn with ink or watercolors that expose the horrors of the Holocaust and 238 photographs. "I have a sense of being quite horrified, of feeling my stomach in my throat," Klages says remembering about the album. Now she wants to discover how the album reached in the possession of her father. The only clue is a signature at the bottom of several drawings: Porulski. She doesn't recall her father speaking about the war, the album, or the artist who painted it. Specialists think that Porulski painted the 30 pictures after Dachau camp was liberated in 1945, he "would never have dared" to draw the horrors while being still under oppression. Barbara Distel, the director of the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site said about the album: "It's a unique artifact, and clearly drawn by someone with an intimate knowledge of the camp's reality." It seems that Porulski even after the war tried to return to Poland, but communist authorities wanted Porulski out of the country Malgorzata Stozek daughter of a relative recalls: "One day I came to see my mother and she was crying because he wrote to her that he had no money, he was hungry and was sleeping on park benches. He lived in terrible povert."

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France says must prepare for possible war with Iran by Delia Cruceru

Bernard Kouchner, the French Foreign Minister warned Iran on September 16, in an interview for the French television, if the country doesn't stop its nuclear program. "We must prepare for the worst," Kouchner said in an interview, adding: "The worst, sir, is war." France President Nicolas Sarkozy said in August that Iran's nuclear weapons are "unacceptable" an invoked the possibility of a military confrontation although it would be "catastrophic". "We do not want to signal anything other than 'peace is in your interest, and in ours too,'" Kouchner said, as France officials are interested in peace negotiations with Teheran. Kouchner asked France biggest companies, including oil giant Total and gas firm Gaz de France, not to invest in economic projects with Iran or take part in any further economic deals. "We have already asked a certain number of our large companies to not respond to tenders, and it is a way of signalling that we are serious," Kouchner said. "We are not banning French companies from submitting. We have advised them not to. These are private companies. But I think that it has been heard and we are not the only ones to have done this." Countries members of the United Nations Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the US - plus Germany will meet on September 21 to discuss a new draft UN resolution on sanctions against Iran. The Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said: "The West are talking about imposing sanctions on us but they cannot do this."

related story: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20070916/tpl-uk-iran-france-war-19346ad_1.html

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Al-Qaida strikes again by Claudia Sonea

Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha, , head of the Anbar Awakening Council, who organized 25 Sunni Arab clans into an alliance against al-Qaida in Iraq, died in a bomb explosion near his home, just west of Ramadi as he returned from his farm, according to police Col. Tareq Youssef. Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf stated that there was also a second bomb in order to be sure if the first one fails. This comes after in June four anti-al-Qaida sheiks as they met in a Baghdad hotel were killed by a suicide bomb. Despite the fact that no one claimed responsibility for the terrible act it is generally thought to be al-Qaida's work, mostly because they already killed four of Abu Risha's brothers and six other relatives for colluding with the U.S. military. The work started by him and the allied sheiks brought a major improvement in security in such Anbar flashpoints as Fallujah and Ramadi after years of failures from the Americans. Abu Risha's brother, Ahmed, was selected to replace him as head of the council, so the terrorist won't win and the fight against them can continue, according to Sheik Jubeir Rashid, a senior member of Abu Risha's council, and Ali Hatem al-Sulaiman, deputy chief of the province's biggest Sunni tribe, supports him. Even Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite who had been reluctant to support Abu Risha, said it's a terrible lost and Gen. David Petraeus in his report to the Congress praises the work of Abu Risha and his successes. Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino stated that Abu was one of the first interested in helping them to eradicate terrorism and thanks to him the situation is now easier for the US military. Moreover, a fatal attack on the headquarters garrison of the American military in Iraq carried out this week killing one person and wounding another 11, makes stronger the fears of Ramadi that now the black days of the terrorist will come again. Until further notice, stay connected.

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Powerful earthquake kills 5 in Indonesia by Delia Cruceru

Indonesia was hit yesterday by a powerful earthquake with the magnitude of 8.4 on Richter scale. At least five people died, two from Bengkulu and three from Padang. But another earthquake stroked the west cost of Sumatra at 6.50am local time on Thursday morning, 13 hours after the first quake. The US Geological Survey said that the second quake was "at 7.7 on the Richter scale, centered 185km south-east of the city of Padang. It was weaker than Wednesday evening's 8.4-magnitude quake, which was further south, nearer the city of Bengkulu." The quake from Wednesday turned houses, malls or mosques in to debris and it could be felt in almost four countries. The authorities warned about the aftershocks, the stronger was registered at magnitude of 6.6 and of course the tsunami alert was on. After the initial quake, Padang was hit by a tsunami about 3 feet high after 20 minutes. In the city of Bengkulu almost 100 people were hospitalized, one building was demolished and communications were out. In the quake from today at least 10 people were killed according to the Indonesian authorities Tsunami alerts were issued, waves of 1.5 m high inundated 300 houses on Pagai Island in the Mentawai chain but no significant damage was recorded.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070912/ap_on_re_as/indonesia_earthquake;_ylt=AkP4yCBmur0mOyik.tdiEVGs0NUE

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Putin takes by surprise by Claudia Sonea

History is repeating; if in August 1999 former President Boris Yeltsin suddenly named from relative obscurity Putin as a prime minister, why wouldn't he do the same thing. So on Wednesday a little-known government official, loyal technocrat Viktor Zubkov, was chosen to become Russia's new prime minister. The decision was announced a few hours after the Cabinet of Mikhail Fradkov was dissolved and was accompanied by the explication that the country must be prepared for life after elections. Some see it as a move to retain power after stepping down; others see Zubkov more like a caretaker prime minister that is due to be changed closer to the Election Day. Boris Nadezhdin, a leader of the liberal Union of Right Forces party, confesses that it was a similar situation with Putin, while Yevgeny Volk, who heads the Heritage Foundation's Moscow office, says it is unlikely to have named his successor Wednesday. This announcement came earlier than it was expected, the country thought it will happen after parliamentary elections in December and that the president candidate will be promoted from the favorite prime minister- former Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and Gazprom board chairman Dmitry Medvedev. Kremlin loyalists praised the new prime minister saying he's an honest, hardworking professional. But Andrei Illarionov, Putin's former economic adviser who quit in late 2005 after sharply criticizing Kremlin policy, says it is not a matter of personality, the organization is the problem. Being formed under Putin reign it cannot bring a sudden change in policy. Liberal politicians, Nadezhdin and Grigory Yavlinsky, the leader of the Yabloko party agree on the fact that the move only states that the only power in Russia is the president. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack stated that despite some issues the government in Russia can work with the new prime minister. Don't go away, there are more news on this.

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Terrorists celebrates 9/11 by Claudia Sonea

On Monday Al-Qaida announced they will release a second movie with Osama bin Laden celebrating 9/11. The first movie was posted on the Web on Saturday and presented bin Laden in a white robe and round cap and beige cloak lecturing the Americans and telling them that they should give in and embrace Islam. It has become a custom for the terrorist to release each year a tape with last statements by hijackers on the anniversary of the 2001 attacks, attracting more sympathizers and regrouping. Al-Qaida's media arm, Al-Sahab, said that the video will be accompanied by a banner and will be posted on an Islamic militant Web forum where the group often posts its messages. Ben Venzke, head of IntelCenter, a U.S. group that monitors and analyzes militant messages, believes that the Saturday video was taped early in August and that Monday video that will probably be released within 24 hours to coincide with 9/11, will have the same settings. Al-Shehri was one of the hijackers on American Airlines Flight 11 that collided with the World Trade Center's north tower. His testimonial will be on the famous video. Last year there was a 55 minutes documentary on how everything was planned and showed old footage with bin Laden and his lieutenants like Mohammed Atef, who was later killed in a November 2001 U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan, and Ramzi Binalshibh, who was captured in 2002. Also it had the testimonies of Hamza al-Ghamdi and Wail al-Shehri, brother of Waleed al-Shehri- September 11 hijackers. Terrorism experts don't have any good news and they say al-Qaida's core leadership is regrouping in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region, their forecast being confirmed by the National Intelligence Estimate, according to which the network is growing in strength. Until now no solution was found, nor was Osama captured. His deal to end everything implies that all the Americans should embrace Islam. In consequence no peaceful solution can be found for this conflict.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070910/ap_on_re_mi_ea/bin_laden_video;_ylt=AsoEvQENSne7s3YSSuBr_2Cs0NUE

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New video raises questions on bin Laden by Delia Cruceru

A new videotape released Thursday by the al-Qaida leader, Osama bin Laden, to mark the sixth commemoration of the 3000 victims from the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. In the video he praises the 19 suicide hijackers and presents the will of Walid al-Shehri, as "one of the 19 champions ... who personally penetrated the most extreme degrees of danger," under the title of "The Wills of the Heroes of the Raids on New York and Washington." Osama bin Laden is pictured in the video with a still picture with his finger raised and his beard dyed dark black and it appears that the video was made recent, made since at least June, because he mentions the name of the new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown who took the office in that month. Specialists wonder about bin Laden's health because in the first video released last week he moves only a little and in the second he doesn't move at all. A terrorist expert from the Swedish National Defense College, Magnus Ranstorp, said that trying to guess Osama's health from the images is pure speculation. Other specialist, Abdul Bari Atwan, editor of the pan-Arab newspaper al-Quds al-Arabi and author of "The Secret History of al-Qaida.", thinks that Osama bin Laden is trying to say with the release of two videos in just four days: 'I'm back."

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Can anyone give us a clear picture of Iraq? by Corina Ciubotaru

You don't know what to believe about Iraq these days. Reports after reports show mixed results, attacks on civilians are still happening too often and there is no way of knowing when or how it is all going to end. One of the latest reports led to the idea that the troops should stay in Iraq because the country's army, police and Special Forces units aren't ready to keep the country peaceful by themselves just yet. Even though the police has a long way to go before becoming the force it needs to be, the army is well-prepared and becoming stronger according to the report by former Marine Corps Gen. James Jones. Later reports by troop leaders Raymond Odierno and David Petraeus are a lot more optimistic, pointing out that attacks have decreased in number and that the country is generally a safer place to live in than it was a few months ago. And since the population is now convinced the war's not good and militias have to go, it's up to the government there to write laws enforcing peace in the country. The war in Iraq has proven to be longer and harder than anyone ever expected and the results are barely becoming visible now, after four long years of promises and short-term goals. Both Gen. Petraeus and Ryan Crocker, the American ambassador in Iraq are expected to appear this week before Congress to speak about the situation there and maybe help answer some of the remaining questions.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070909/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq_sea_of_stats;_ylt=AjNsUszym4WaDTpwKPrwzCOs0NUE

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Bodies exhumed from Viking burial mound by Delia Cruceru

Yesterday archaeologists from Norway opened a Viking burial mound to determine if the two women buried there were related. The bodies of the women were found in 1904 in the Oseberg Viking longboat which is now exposed at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. One woman was at her 60s and the other one at 30s. They believe that the older woman was a royalty. The ship was 65 foot and it was buried in 834 as a grave ship for a powerful Viking woman, according to officials of the museum. Per Holck from the University of Oslo said that the older woman might be the powerful Viking Queen Aasa and the younger one her daughter. "We will do DNA tests to try to find out. I don't know of any Viking skeletons that have been analysed as we plan to do," Egil Mikkelsen, director of Oslo's Museum of Cultural History. Other specialists think that the younger one might be a maid and she was killed to be a companion into the afterlife. With the technology today they can do chemical analysis of bones that will reveal what people ate. Long times ago in the Viking era the poor people ate fish while the richer ate meat such as elk. "If they were mother and daughter they would probably have had the same food. If one woman was a maid they would have had different diets," Mikkelsen said.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070910/ap_on_re_eu/norway_viking_grave;_ylt=Al3a2.A5qc3HG81CAaRklXOs0NUE

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Iraq is making progress, but isn't quite ready to be left to its own devices by Corina Ciubotaru

The Republicans and the Democrats can't agree whether a local police in charge of peace-keeping is required in Iraq or not. Should the troops be kept in the country indefinitely or should the Iraqis be left to handle things on their own? They have a President, a government and a police force that is thought to be corrupt. And right now they are relying on the American forces to stop them from attacking each other. It's true that changes expected from Iraq are great and that the country needs to grow more on the path of democracy and justice before they can make their own peace but this change was forced upon them. They are being taught how to behave and a good teacher should know when to back down and let the student learn by his own mistakes. Now, the Republicans think the police forces need to be trained properly before the troops can be brought home, while the Democrats would want the Iraqis to handle things on their own, because they might become rebellious if they are given too much knowledge and weapons. Only time will tell who is right in this argument and the future of Iraq will hopefully become more of their own responsibility over time. After all, the local army there seems to become stronger and better equipped every day, and the special forces can make their country and trainers proud. The police are also doing better, as training is improving and it seems the number of attacks has fallen.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070905/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq;_ylt=AtxRJpFvVFuIl2Pk1i9fE02s0NUE

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Germans arrest 3 in alleged terror plot by Delia Cruceru

Yesterday, September 5 two German citizens converted to Islam and one Turkish resident of Germany were arrested in alleged terror plot. "This is the first time I've seen a Turkish-German network," said Guido Steinberg, a researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin. "And the fact that it is connected to a Turkish network in Pakistan is an even bigger problem." Federal Prosecutor Monika Harms said that the three suspects of terrorism planned to attack Frankfurt International Airport and the U.S. Ramstein Air Base and other spots frequented by Americans in Germany. According to Harms the two Germans converted trained in terrorist camps in Pakistan and that the three suspected had about 1,500 pounds of hydrogen peroxide the equivalent of 1200 pounds of TNT. They were arrested in a vacation home from the village of Oberschledorn with 900 people, at 75 miles north of Frankfurt. The three suspects are members of a German cell of the Islamic Jihad Union, a radical Sunni group based in Central Asia that split from the extremist Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Chancellor Angela Merkel said in Berlin that "The lesson from this is the danger is not just abstract, it's real. The consequences of an attack would have been indescribable."

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070905/ap_on_re_eu/germany_terror;_ylt=AopkRR1DqHrCMrwWddZ_Geas0NUE

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Taiwan earthquake last week had no casualties by Corina Ciubotaru

A few earthquakes shook Taiwan's capital city of Taipei on Friday and fortunately made no victims. The first one had a magnitude of 6.5, while the second was a 5.7. The first quake lasted for about 30 seconds and occurred at 17:51 GMT on Thursday, which is 1:51 A.M. local time. Its aftershock sent the residents of high rise buildings out in the streets in the middle of the night, but their homes sustained only minor damage. The first quake was located 16.78 miles under the sea, 46.35 miles southeast of the city of Ilan. Ilan is located around 50 miles east of Taipei. The second tremor was located in the same region, and a third one of 3.9 degrees was felt in the southeastern region of Taitung. Earthquakes are common in the country, but usually they do not cause serious damage. The last big quake took place in 1999, when 2,000 people died in a 7.6 degree earthquake that worried the computer world. It hit central Taiwan, home to large motherboard manufacturers Acer Laboratories Inc. and Silicon Integrated Systems Corp. Their businesses remained operational after the tremor, but another quake in late 2006 had seriously damaged Internet links in Hong Kong and killed 2 people in Taiwan. It had affected communications in the entire region, including China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and Singapore. It made telecom officials in the area take note of the fragility of the communications industry and make decisions on how to improve security for Internet lines in the future.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070906/ts_nm/quake_taiwan_dc;_ylt=AlhdIgFGPwJHFxcy1hAi.Jas0NUE

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.

Democratic Iraq is still a dream by Corina Ciubotaru

The war in Iraq seems to have more or less ended its most violent part and now the peace-keeping operations are underway. The country has a new President and even a Prime Minister and they are both doing their best to get the democratic regime going. That's not easy when rival factions are fighting each other and Shiites and Sunnis have hundreds of years of war between them. But is a democracy really a democracy if it has to be kept at gun point? There are currently 160,000 troops there and President Bush seems determined to keep his armies there indefinitely and plans to reduce their duties from 15 months to 12 starting in spring. American politicians complain about the lack of results from the new government in the country, but seem incapable to understand that Iraq can't be changed overnight, probably because not all of its inhabitants thought a change was necessary. How does it make them feel when they see a foreign army invading their country and patrolling their streets? They are constantly reminded of the war and a new political regime can't function right in a country at war. The war is on themselves, on their traditions and on change that they didn't expect. Not all Iraqis are terrorists; some of them are children and women who were happy before their home was bombed by an air raid. Why do they need democracy when they have Allah to guide them? And where's the democracy in not allowing people to live their lives as they see fit?

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070904/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq;_ylt=At6wFYwjKYIO.ZB4FF75k0ms0NUE

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.

North Korea's restrictions will be lifted, but only after conditions are fully met by Corina Ciubotaru

It seems North Korea isn't going to lose its designation as a terrorism-sponsoring country as soon as Koreans thought. The country has been designated a sponsor in 1988 after the 1987 attack on a South Korean flight which killed 115 people and since then, it has been banned from a series of economic aides that might have accelerated its development; for example, it has been denied access to low interest loans from the World Bank. But the situation in the Asian country has been progressing significantly and now there have been talks of excluding it from the list. It will all come down to how fast the country will shut down its nuclear program and steps have been made by closing the 5-megawatt reactor in Yongbyon in July. According to the agreement signed in February between China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States, North Korea will have to end its nuclear program in exchange for benefits which include aid and political benefits. The list of countries currently sponsoring terrorism also includes Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria. Iraq, Libya and South Yemen are the countries that have been removed from the list over the years. Countries on the list are imposed a series of restrictions from the U.S., which include no arms-related exports, controls over dual-use exports, and some forms of financial and economic restrictions. If things go well this time, the country might still have a chance to develop and attract foreign investors and aid to help it grow out of poverty.

related story: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aht1fFNw8jUE&refer=home

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.

Iraq's Prime Minister has results whether we see them or not by Corina Ciubotaru

The war in Iraq has been hard on everybody. On the troops stationed there, on their commanders, on their families back home; on the Iraqis themselves and on their newly designated leaders. The democracy that was intended there was achieved only in part, as the Sunni and Shiite ministers fight each other constantly and claim the country's people are not united, while the President and Prime Minister seem powerless in the fight against Talibans' reign in the south of Iraq. Most people thought this war would be an easy one. That the dictatorship would be abolished quickly, that the hidden weapons would be exposed easily and that the people there would embrace change in no time. But this ideal picture was wrong; Iraqis wanted change, but they can't be expected to give up their years of history and all of their beliefs which separate them in two rival factions who also fight each other. Some said the Prime Minister should be replaced, but his situation isn't easy over there. He has done his share of good things, like clearing the north of drugs, and he can't be expected to change a country devastated by war in such a short time. In Karbala and Baghdad alone 60 people were killed since last week. The recent deaths are a painful reminder that there is much left to be done there, and only time will tell if Iraq will become the successful capitalist country that its current leaders are trying to make it.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070902/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq;_ylt=AhPpKpcEKOVtHTrAkj1Nqyms0NUE

by Corina Ciubotaru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.

White House pushes back on Iraq report by Delia Cruceru

There is a lot of pressure on the White House concerning the Iraq's little political progress, as the independent assessment concludes despite that U.S. was present with troops for restoration of peace. A senior administration official said Thursday that: "A draft report by the Government Accountability Office concluded Iraq has satisfied three of 18 benchmarks set by Congress and partially met two others." U.S. authorities are disappointed that Iraq has failed in providing three trained and ready Iraqi brigades to support Baghdad operations or to ensure that the security plan. Although many politicians pressure President Bush to stop the presence of American troops in Iraq, Bush sticks to his strategy, but Friday he will meet with the Joint Chiefs that will express deep concerns about the long term impact on the military of maintaining a heavy troop presence in Iraq in 2008 and beyond. "The real question that people have is: What's going on in Iraq? Are we making progress? Militarily, is the surge having an impact?" said White House spokesman Tony Snow. "The answer is yes. There's no question about it." Democrats as well as Republicans think that if Baghdad can't reach a lasting political settlement that will stop the violence over there, the presence of the troops is useless. "With the president continuing to stay the course in Iraq, Republicans will have to decide whether they will continue to vote with him or join Democrats and the vast majority of Americans who are demanding a new direction in Iraq and refocusing America's efforts on fighting the real threats of terrorism around the world," said Pelosi, D-Calif.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070830/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq;_ylt=AoXCAMH.M2wT_PXUi2bXj4ys0NUE

by Delia Cruceru for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.